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Kerala innovates |
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Stories of three innovators from the Kerala state, who have changed the lives of farmers in their communities. They will be honoured at the Festival of Innovation to be held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, April 10-13, 2023 |
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"34110 Pelletisation for Paddy Cultivation
Aji Thomas Ambalavayal, Dist. Wayanad
Aji Thomas and his family c u l t i v a t e v eg et a b les,
banana, rubber and paddy. Paddy farmers in Wayanad struggle due to the high requirement of water and fertilizer, and were beginning to quit its cultivation. Aji had observed that tribal farmers were using a mix of various herbs to enrich their crop’s nutrient value.
His ‘pelletisation for paddy cultivation’ method, is called ‘kettinati’ in Malayalam, meaning ‘baby carrier’. He collects the seeds of high-yielding paddy varieties. He grows them in a bio-slurry medium made by mixing fermented plant leaves with other sources of organic micronutrients. These could be panchagavya (i.e. a mix of milk, urine, dung, ghee, and curd, derived from cows) and jeevamrutham (i.e. a mix of cow dung, urine, jaggery, pulses and soil). It may also contain biocontrol agents such as pseudomonas and azospirillum. The micro-bacteria in the slurry break down nutrients from the soil and supply them to the sprouting seeds. The pellets can be formed in either a stainless steel tray with square-shaped holes (with sides of 1 to 1.5 inches), or a generic hollow rubber mat. Once the pellets germinate and grow to a desired height, they are transplanted to the fields.
This method gives higher yield, and faster growth rate. Aji advises against using commercial pesticides. The slurry has resulted in one and a half times the straw yield, and 50- 60 tillers per plant. Per acre, the seed requirement has been cut from 30-50 kg to only 2.5-5 kg,
yielding 5.5-6 megatons of paddy, which is double the usual. The growing season has also been reduced by 15-20 days. Manual labour has been cut down to one-fourth.
A hectare requires 12-
14 kg of the bio-slurry. One challenge has been to prevent iron toxicity, and many farmers who prepare the slurry fail to do so. The slurry might cost farmers as much as Rs. 20,000 per hectare. While this is double the average cost of fertilizer and other inputs, it would still be profitable due to savings on labour and seed costs, and gains from doubling the yield.
His method gained popularity around 2013. Now, Aji supplies packets of the medium, readymade pellets, and disseminates knowledge on his method throughout Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. This method works on different terrains, including on slopes. The Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) of the Kerala government has assisted him in reaching a wide net of farmers. His next move is to supply pellets all over India with the help of the NIF, NIT - Kozhikode and HBN. Ram Abhilash Patel, Allahabad was honoured in 2002 by HBN and NIF for using clay pellets having paddy seeds though not with the additional nutrients
(https://nif.org.in/innovation/ Innovative_Technique_of_Using_ Clay_Pellets_for_Sowing_Paddy/263) (Also see Honey Bee 27(4):8; 2016)
34111 Pepper Thresher
Binoy Sebastian
Dist. Idukki
source: The Hindu, 2015
prepare the slurry fail to
Binoy Sebastian is a pepper farmer. He learnt about threshers through books and online research. While pursuing studies for BA Economics, he also improved his skills as a fabricator and machinist. At his workshop, he builds and improves various farming equipment and other machines.
Kerala accounts for 94% of India’s pepper production. The vines grow between June and December, and are harvested from February to March. Farmers either rub the stalk between their hands or stomp on the branches to separate the peppercorns. It is a time-consuming, labour-intensive task and also damages some of the harvest.
With the ‘pepper thresher,’ stalks are fed from an inlet into a rotating drum.. Six spiral blades are attached at equal intervals to the edge of the drum, at a slight downward incline. As the drum rotates, berries are pitted against the walls of the drum, against the spiral overhead blades and against each other. These rubbing actions separate the kernels from the stalks. The fresh peppercorns are collected from the machine, and then dried in the sun.
The machine has a capacity of 300- 350 kg of pepper per hour on a 1 HP motor. The efficiency of the machine is between 85-95%. He has added an overload spring to minimize damage and power consumption. It costs him about Rs. 40,000 to make the machine. He has yet to decide on a selling price.
He experimented with hand-operated machines, at first, and developed three to four types of machines, which he used on his farm. After almost fifteen years of trial and error, he finally developed his first prototype of the Pepper Thresher, which operates on electricity. He holds workshops to encourage more farmers to adopt innovative technologies, as well as develop new solutions.
(Also see Honey Bee 23(4)&24(1):17; 2013-2014, for Pratheesh C.‘s handheld peppercorn plucker, which seems to be among a few accessible machines made for the purpose; Ed.)
34112 Portable Coconut Breaking and Water Collecting Device
Biju Narayanan
Dist. Idukki
Biju Narayanan is a self-taught mechanic and e le c t r ici a n,
whose father was a blacksmith. After school, he worked as a technician.
Coconuts are collected and initially processed by small farmers using manual tools. Breaking them is laborious. It is usually done by using an ‘aruval’ or hooked steel knife, which can injure the farmer. Seeing his family and other farmers struggle, he designed a portable device to open coconuts.
The ‘portable coconut breaking and water collecting device’ works mechanically, or can be powered by a 12V battery. The tray at the base of the machine holds the coconut, and the operator of the machine must hold the tray in place. For safety, the blade can be operated by a remote. This makes a free-falling blade, assisted by a cam, cut into the coconut. The water that leaks out passes through a filter, and is collected in a container.
The machine halves coconuts in just 10 seconds. It averages about 250-300 coconuts per hour when operated manually, and 800-900 coconuts per hour in the power-operated mode. The water is collected efficiently, and avoids the wastage that happens in manual cutting. This machine can also be used to cut grass, tapioca, and sugar cane.
Narayanan created many prototypes which could not achieve the desired speed and pressure, until adding a 12 V battery. His machine is used by households, catering services, and food industries. It weighs 10 kg, and should be placed on a solid surface. With the help of NIF, Narayanan has supplied eight machines, priced at Rs. 7,500 to 8,000 for household consumers, and for farmers, he offers them at a discounted price of Rs. 5,000.
(Vinod Mahadeviah, Bengaluru, Karnataka was honoured at 7th National Grassroots Innovation Awards by HBN and NIF, 2013 for a similar machine: Eds.
https://nif.org.in/innovation/tender_ coconut_breaker_and_instant_
cooler/675)
Compiled by Jothiramalingar, SEVA, and Arundhati Sen, GIAN.
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Honey Bee, 34(1)15-16, 2023 |
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