Meet Mushtaq Ahmed Dar, a grassroots innovator from Anantnag

A resident of Anantnag district in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, Mushtaq Ahmed Dar has done several innovations in the field of walnut production and processing. His innovations are significant in the sense that they have become a source of employment generations for people in the state.

Acknowledging his innovation, the Ministry of Science & Technology, said in a press statement, “Mushtaq Ahmed Dar, a grassroots innovator from the Anantnag district in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, has brought out a series of innovations for making the processing of walnuts easier and more efficient, as well as a device for climbing poles.”

It added, “The innovations for walnut processing include a Walnut Cracking Machine’ and also the Walnut peeler, washer, and sorter to streamline walnut production and help reduce the drudgery of people involved in walnut processing, a niche occupation primarily in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and also observed in parts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.”

One can imagine the importance of his innovation that even other countries, particularly from Afghanistan, during India - Afghanistan Trade and Investment Show in the year 2017, showed a lot of interest.

“The genesis of his other innovation - Pole-Pro, is rooted in the complex geography of Kashmir Valley, where carrying bulky ladders for routine repairs delayed the outcome every time. The Pole-Pro solution eliminated the need for bulky ladders in most situations. It helped first-hand diagnosis of problems in electricity, telecom, and other poles with safety protocols. Today, the technology is available in market through Anventa Gadgetix Pvt Ltd, a start-up recognized by the Government of India (DIPP25154) and incubated by NIFientreC (NIF Incubation and Entrepreneurship Council), a Technology Business Incubator (TBI) hosted by NIF and supported by DST,” the Ministry said.