Reference: Padmini Sampath, Hemalatha Annamalai and Sarang Valavan from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. The agri-startup led by Padmini, Green Kerala Agritech Solutions, has developed ‘Tharam’.
A portable device for determining the quality of agricultural produce.
How good would it be if there was a device that, when given a spoon of turmeric powder, could accurately tell you its moisture, curcumin, starch, and oleoresin content? And that too, in a size that is merely portable!
The name of this device, which is equally useful for farmers, traders, and exporters, is ‘Tharam.’ This small device makes quality testing, which until now was done in laboratories, possible in the fields and marketplaces.
‘Tharam’ at a glance
Everyone today knows the benefits and possibilities of identifying the quality. It is the basis on which a product is said to be good or not. Products bought based on external appearance might be bad on the inside.
Even if there are no issues internally, the quality can reduce when it is powdered. Until now, huge laboratory facilities were required to ensure quality in such matters.
💡 But what if the quality of agricultural products could be measured with the help of a portable device? Every farmer can secure a good price for his crops and thereby gain a permanent place for his products in the market. Losses can be avoided.
Currently, with the help of technology, they are making quality testing possible for spices like turmeric and chilli.
This test, which utilizes color chromatography and machine learning, does not require any chemicals to be added. The testing is done using near-infrared rays.
Put a spoonful of turmeric powder in the chamber of ‘Tharam’.
After placing a sample of the product in the device’s chamber, one only needs to press a button.
The amount of various components in the product will appear on the adjacent screen.
No chemicals need to be added during the test.
When given a spoon of turmeric powder, ‘Tharam’ can accurately tell you its:
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Moisture content
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Curcumin content
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Starch content
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Oleoresin content
Until now, the method for large export orders was to send many samples to the laboratory and conduct different tests for different components. This process, which takes days, is completed by ‘Tharam’ within a minute.
Farmers, agro-product companies, and traders can test samples in the market, and that too at a relatively low cost. To begin with, this is available for the spice turmeric.
📦 Perhaps, it will be possible to get orders by conducting quality tests even before the harvest. The test results from ‘Tharam’ can also be shared directly with the consumer.
This device’s accuracy has been verified and confirmed by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. The researchers are trying to popularize it widely after also getting the approval of the Spices Board.
The experiments for ‘Tharam’ are being conducted at the incubator in Kongu Engineering College, Erode. Many companies involved in the value addition and export of spices have already acquired ‘Tharam’. Padmini pointed out that this is helpful in fulfilling export orders quickly.
💰 The company has decided to make the device, which costs around ₹8 lakhs, available to farmers on rent.
Padmini said that soon, ‘Tharam’ will also be able to conduct quality tests for other spices, including black pepper. She added that this method can be used not only for spices but also for determining the quality and detecting adulteration in other agricultural products, and such devices will be developed soon.
Padmini Sampath
Hemalatha Annamalai
Sarang Valavan
The hard work of Padmini Sampath and her co-researchers Hemalatha Annamalai and Sarang Valavan from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, has resulted in ‘Tharam’. The agri-startup led by Padmini, Green Kerala Agritech Solutions, has developed the device.
📞 Contact number mentioned: 8618933824
Scan the QR code to watch the video.
What is ‘Tharam’ used for in agriculture?
‘Tharam’ is a portable device for determining the quality of agricultural produce. It is currently used for spices like turmeric and chilli, and it can tell important quality parameters from a small sample without sending every sample to a laboratory.
How fast can ‘Tharam’ test turmeric quality?
The article states that a process which earlier took days through laboratory testing can be completed by ‘Tharam’ within a minute. A spoonful of turmeric powder is placed in the chamber, a button is pressed, and the component levels appear on the screen.
Which turmeric quality parameters does ‘Tharam’ measure?
For turmeric powder, ‘Tharam’ can accurately tell moisture, curcumin, starch, and oleoresin content. These measurements help farmers, traders, agro-product companies, and exporters understand product quality beyond external appearance.
Does the device need chemicals for testing?
No chemicals need to be added for the test. ‘Tharam’ uses color chromatography, machine learning, and near-infrared rays to evaluate the sample placed inside the device chamber.
Can farmers use ‘Tharam’ before harvest or in the market?
Yes. The article notes that farmers, agro-product companies, and traders can test samples in the market at a relatively low cost. It may also be possible to get orders by conducting quality tests even before harvest.
Has the accuracy of ‘Tharam’ been verified?
The device’s accuracy has been verified and confirmed by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. The researchers are also trying to popularize it widely after getting the approval of the Spices Board.
How much does ‘Tharam’ cost and will it be available on rent?
The device costs around ₹8 lakhs. According to the article, the company has decided to make ‘Tharam’ available to farmers on rent, which can make the technology more accessible for practical farm and market use.
