Che Adnan Che Kadir demonstrating the portable coconut-husking tool he built using discarded metal and recycled mechanical parts. (Bernama pic) PASIR MAS: Every useful invention begins with a problem - and Che Adnan Che Kadir identified the issues his each time a worker raised a machete to husk a coconut.The traditional method is slow, physically demanding, and carries a constant risk of injury. So the 56-year-old coconut plantation owner decided to build a safer alternative.Using discarded metal, bearings, shafts and other recycled mechanical parts, he assembled the first version of a portable coconut-husking tool, refining its blade through repeated welding and adjustments.“I wanted not just to create something for my own use but to develop a product that could benefit coconut growers, small entrepreneurs, the santan industry and ordinary users,” he told Bernama.The compact device, which costs an estimated RM150 to RM180 to produce, has already transformed tasks on his plantation.Husking a mature coconut manually usually takes between two and three minutes.
His invention can complete the job in about one minute, while a skilled worker may take only up to 45 seconds.This allows between 50 and 60 coconuts to be processed in an hour, depending on their size and variety.Speed is only part of the goal. The tool, weighing 3.5kg, was designed to be light enough to be carried into plantations, allowing coconuts to be husked before they are transported to buyers. This, in turn, would help growers cut delivery costs.Users can also control how deeply the blade removes the husk.
Leaving a thin layer attached can help preserve the coconut’s freshness and extend its shelf life.Future versions could include an electric motor, foot-operated switch, adjustable blades, and foldable frame to make the device safer and easier to store.The prototype is already being used by a coconut trader in Kampung Limau Purut, while more than 20 entrepreneurs have expressed interest in acquiring one.This response has encouraged Che Adnan to consider bringing the invention further. He plans to seek assistance from various agencies to improve the design, protect his intellectual property, and pursue a patent.Ultimately, he hopes the tool will become a Malaysian-made product that can be sold locally and, perhaps, someday overseas.
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