Farmers double up as innovators, lead the way
The National Farm Innovators' Meet at the Central Institute of Post-Harvesting Engineering and Technology (CIPHET) held on Wednesday, which saw more than 50 farmers from all over India showcasing their innovations, brought forth some amazing technologies invented by farmers.
The National Farm Innovators' Meet at the Central Institute of Post-Harvesting Engineering and Technology (CIPHET) held on Wednesday, which saw more than 50 farmers from all over India showcasing their innovations, brought forth some amazing technologies invented by farmers.
Nandlal Vishkarma, who came all the way from Rohtas in Bihar, showcased his engine which runs on paddy husk. Producing power ranging from 20-80 horse power, the engine can be used for operating wheat crushing machines, milling rice, producing electricity on small scale, pumping groundwater and various other stationary works. Vishkarma, who spent five years inventing this engine, said, "I spent around Rs 3 lakh on it, but I save Rs 52 every hour if I compare it to the cost of running a diesel engine."
The innovation of Kalpana Kishore, a housewife from Amravati in Maharashtra, fetched her the "Best food product award" from CIPHET. She has come up with a unique 'roti' with 'amla' and dry fruits, which has a shelf life of six months. "I was working on this 'roti' for the past 10 years. I have even bagged a dealership for the product in Amravati, from which I make Rs 20,000 every month. A special paste of 'amla' and dry fruits used in making this 'roti' has a shelf life of six months. Moreover, 'amla' is extremely rich in nutritional value," said a beaming Kishore after receiving the award. She said her habit of doing experiments in the kitchen led to this innovation.
Dipen Shah, hailing from Anand in Gujarat, earns a profit of Rs 50 on every kg of drumsticks, a vegetable mostly used in 'sambhar'. Shah decided to store drumsticks in huge quantities using the "modified atmosphere storage" process. "Generally, storing vegetables is a problem as they start ripening because of the 20-22% oxygen in the air at room temperature. With the help of this technology, which I installed at a cost of Rs 15 lakh, I can now store drumsticks for up to 100 days," he said.
Explaining the process, Shah said, "We cut down the level of oxygen by pushing in carbon dioxide, which stops the ripening of vegetables. No one in the country ever tried this technology on vegetables, though it is used for preserving apples and mangoes."
Shah is now planning to use this technology to preserve carrots and beetroots. "Since drumsticks are generally not available in Gujarat, we are earning a decent profit from them," he said.
The potable irrigation system developed by Prince and his father, residents of Dhamla village in Yamunanagar district of Haryana, also won many admirers. Under this system, water can be carried uphill with the help of a tanker and a pump. They had showcased their invention at Rashtrapati Bhawan, too.
An eco-friendly water sprinkler invented by Sagar Rawale of Gujarat was also one of the major attractions at the meet.