ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute develops electronic starch indicator for cassava

The ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI) in Thiruvananthapuram has developed a device for estimating the starch content in cassava (tapioca).

The ‘electronic starch indicator’ was developed in response to a demand from cassava farmers for a reliable onsite method to estimate starch content in fresh tubers. According to T. Krishnakumar, scientist, CTCRI, and lead developer of the technology, the meter, developed with the support of Kochi-based company EMCON industries, is an innovation that simplifies starch estimation while improving accuracy and transparency.

According to the CTCRI, the device enables farmers and stakeholders to determine starch content quickly and accurately through a two-step process—measuring the weight of about 3 to 5 kg of cassava tubers first in air and then in water. The system then directly displays the starch percentage.

“At present, the Reimann balance, a hydrostatic method widely used in cassava-growing regions such as Salem, is commonly employed for starch estimation of fresh tubers. However, farmers have expressed concerns regarding possible misuse, which may lead to undervaluation of produce, as cassava prices in these regions are often determined based on starch content and tuber weight,” the CTCRI said.

The newly developed electronic indicator is expected to enhance fair pricing, transparency, and farmer confidence and the institute plans to transfer the technology for commercial production, making the device widely accessible to farmers, traders, and processing industries, CTCRI director G. Byju said.