Rev Sunep bags national award for pineapple-peeling machine

Rev Imkong Sunep Lungkumer bagged the National Grassroot Innovation Award, 2023 for his pineapple peeling machine and shredding-cum-peeling to ease the task of peeling the horticultural crop at the 11th National Innovation Foundation, New Delhi.
Hailing from Yaongyimsen, Mokokchung, Sunep informed Nagaland Post that he had designed the peeling machine formed with a welding machine, a motor of 1/2 HP and some parts from a Maruti car in 2017-18. He said the pineapple peeling machine would cost up to Rs 24,000 while the tapioca shredding machine would be around Rs 12,000 in the market, However after inventing the machines, these were kept unused as he was not aware how to show to the people.
Inspired by his father since childhood days, he mentioned that was always interested in blacksmith works and electrification though he did not get any formal training. He said he was always inspired to innovate and make new machines and had invented a tapioca shredding machine in 2011-12, adding that the idea of a pineapple peeling machine came to him after speaking to an officer in the Department of Horticulture.
After months of hard work and toiling, he invented the award-winning machine and shared its video with some government officials. Though he received appreciation for his work, he said there was no response beyond that.
With a zeal to innovate and invent such machines relevant for the people, Sunep disclosed that he had been approached by several companies from places like Bangalore for tie-ups with them and commercialise his inventions. However, he stated that he had declined such offers, while the process to patent his pineapple peeling machine was in process.
Sunep has been serving in the ministry for 18 years and is currently an ordained minister at Chakpa. He said he had received permission from the church to work on the award-winning invention.
Sharing his journey of inventions, he revealed that acquiring machinery parts was a big challenge as he stayed 38 km away from Mokokchung and had a hard time borrowing or finding other alternatives. He said financial aid was also another factor along with time since he was attached with his ministry.