Background
This project stems from an established organization called The Full Belly Project. This group has provided the universal peanut sheller to several communities with the vision of reducing hunger in the developing nations. There are general guidelines on how to make a peanut sheller, but they can and should be adapted to the local materials in specific communities.
The sheller was first created by Jock Brandis, who realized the need for a mechanized peanut sheller on a trip to Africa. Peanuts provide a wide range of benefits, from preventing soil erosion to being a primary source of protein, but the women of the village felt that the work of shelling nuts was too labor intensive to grow them on such a scale. Brandis then promised to return in a year with a way to shell the nuts faster and easier, thus spawning the creation of the universal peanut sheller.[1]
Description of Opportunity
The project that I am undertaking is the creation of a peanut sheller. It will be used in a developing nation where the diet is largely dependent on peanuts or other shelled nuts. The country where my sheller will be used has not been chosen as of yet, but will most likely be used in Africa or Asia. The machine will be most useful in villages where a considerable amount of time is used to process peanuts.
The peanut sheller will be used to expedite peanut processing. By being able to shell more than one nut at a time, the peanut sheller will increase production while at the same time cut down on the time spent on it. It must be made form local materials without much difficulty and have a lifespan of at least fifteen years. The use of local materials is very important because they will be used in villages where the resources and materials are taken from the local environment. Therefore, it will also be adapted to the specific location of where the sheller will ultimately be used. The lifespan of the machine is also important; it should last a fairly long time without having to be replaced. Otherwise, the users will be spending more time fixing or replacing the machine, which will add to the workload when it is supposed to reduce it. It should be easily replicable and simple to use. If it is not easy to operate, people will have a hard time adapting to it and will be less likely to use it. The ability to make multiple machines will give the users more freedom to choose when they do the work instead of having to wait for a turn or delegate a person to the task.
The people who will benefit most from this machine are the women of these countries whose labor spent on shelling peanuts will be dramatically reduced. The hours of saved time could be used for other responsibilities or obligations. It will also save women from tedious work that is exhausting to their hands. Versions of it are currently used now in several countries, primarily in Africa, and the reception of the sheller has been positive. The success of the existing peanut shellers reinforces the need for such a machine.
Criteria
Materials: The sheller must be made with local materials so that the cost remains low and the users are independent to make them on their own.
Durability/Longevity: It must have a minimum lifespan of fifteen years.
Efficiency: It must shell more peanuts than can be done by hand at a rate that makes the production of the machine worth the cost and time.
Low/No Maintenance: It should require little, if any, maintenance.
Replication: The sheller must be easy to replicate.
Easy to use: The machine should be easy and pleasurable to use. This means it should be comfortable and virtually effortless to operate.
Literature Review
The Universal Nut Sheller
The Universal Nut Sheller is a machine that can be used to expedite the shelling of nuts and thus increase food production on developing nations. It is made from materials that are easily accessible and fairly cheap.
A bag of concrete is relatively inexpensive, and the most common substance used for the main part of the sheller. In addition to being cheap, it is durable and will ensure a long life for the peanut sheller. It is shaped using a mold. The stand can be made of wood, half of an oil drum, or other sturdy material that can be fashioned into a level support base. The sheller also requires some metal parts, including rods, bolts, washers, and nuts. [2]
The sheller will increase the production of nuts, an important source of Calories in the form of fats and proteins. By improving the production rate of peanuts, the women and children of developing communities will have extra time to spend on other tasks and responsibilities.
In the long term, it may help Africa expand food sales, something that will be necessary for Africa’s self-sufficiency in food production[3].
Budget
Mini Peanut Sheller Mold Kit: $223.88 Concrete Mix: $7.51 Concrete Mixer: $7.51 1-foot Threaded Rods: 6 @1.99 6" Threaded Rods: 6 @ $0.99 Nuts and Washers: 48 @ $0.07 Clay: found Newspaper: recycled Plant Pots: 5 @ $0.89 Blender: $5 Peanuts: $6.99
Design
References
- ↑ The Full Belly Project.
- ↑ The Full Belly Project[1]
- ↑ Cohen, Ronald. (1988). “Introduction: Guidance and Misguidance in Africa’s Food Production.” Satisfying Africa’s Food Needs: Food Production and Commercialization in African Agriculture, Lynne Reinner Publishers, Boulder.London.