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Honey bee publish details |
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NIF Award |
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| Title |
Rewarding the Spirit of Innovation-Part IV |
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The anti-bolting device
Gobinda Gogoi, Avi Complex, Rajgarh,
Guwahati 781003, Category: Consolation
Scout : GIAN NE
Gobinda Chandra Gogoi has developed an L-Drop Auto Protector, an anti-bolting device, which prevents unauthorized bolting of the door. This device can be used by a person whether he is inside or outside the room and can be adapted for all types of doors. The device has already been fitted in four houses and found to be very useful. The idea of the L-drop auto-protector occurred to him in 2000, after reading about a case reported in Guwahati, where burglars locked the inmates within a room (having L-drop) from outside, and ransacked the house.
Gogoi spends most of his time and pension working on innovations in his small tool shed. His other innovations include several small attachments to his cot which facilitate reading while lying down and some changes to his gate-locks which are now maintenance-free. He stresses on the fact that he is an innovator and not a businessman and would like to leave the manufacturing of his devices to others.
The water-lifting vane pump- ‘HYDRO-GEN’
Imli Toshi
C/o Chubala, SCERT High School Area
Kohima, Pin 797001
Category: Consolation
Imli Toshi has developed a hydro-powered pump for irrigation. This is a novel combination of a Vane pump and spiral-bladed water turbine. It uses the force of the natural flow of river/ dam water. The pump is horizontally submerged in flowing water and the linear velocity of the water is used to drive the spiral blade shaft that is coupled with the pump. It is portable and easy to handle. It can pump water into agricultural fields and draw water from streams constantly. It is most helpful when the requirement of water is low and the elevation for lifting water is not very high.
The first model of the pump was tested by the North East Regional Water Research Institute. When the water speed was one meter per minute, the speed of the shaft was five rotations per minute and the discharge from the vane pump was one liter per 40 seconds ((90 litres per hour).
In-plant germination of sugarcane
Beni Singh, Vill: Trilokpur, Paliya Kalan Janpad Lakhimpur Kheeri
Uttar Pradesh - 262 701
Scout: SRISTI GYAN Kendra
Beni Singh has developed a process of in-plant germination in sugarcane. One can induce bud germination on the sugarcane plant itself, cut the sets (nodes) and sow the early germinated nodes, instead of sowing sugarcane sets in the field and then letting them germinate. The crop cycle is reduced by about one month. It also benefits farmers as it saves the cost of double use of growth promoters and tractor based operations. The survival rate of the sugarcane is almost the same as when the planting is done after germination. Cost is reduced because germination is sure and uniform planting is done thus saving on labour for replanting. Further a nursery for sugarcane sowing can be developed as an enterprise.
He also has a number of other agricultural innovations to his credit such as the 21 feet tall sugarcane stalks developed without any fertiliser or pesticide, a new technique for reducing chemical and insecticide residue hazards as well as traditional household cures for dysentery and cough in livestock.
Use of buttermilk for coagulation of rubber latex
Shankara Patali
Dri Raksha Nilaya, Mahabaladaka Estate, Post Ishwarmangala, Puttur Taluk, Dakshina Kannada
Scout : PRITVI
Category : Agriculture
A rubber farmer, Shankara Patali has proved that sour butter milk is better than formic acid or acetic acid for coagulation of natural rubber latex. About 150 ml of buttermilk is required for preparing a half a kg of rubber sheet. The rubber sheets made in this manner are of superior quality and colour and fall in the top RSS4 Grade. Buttermilk is safe to use and there are no side-effects or allergies for people handling them, as in the case of acids or chemicals. This treatment also reduces the fungal attack on sheets. It is economical as the farmer saves Rs. 500/acre/year by using buttermilk. This is an idea whose time has come as it not only uses locally available substance but reduces the processing cost by 80 %.
This idea has rapidly caught on within his community and many of the neighboring farmers are using this. Patali stresses on the need for future research in this area. Scientists say that use of organic matter for rubber coagulation is known in the literature but no recommendations have been made because of lack of standardization.
The Uzi fly-trap in silk worm rearing
H.A. Mohammed Wakeel, Kodipura, Sathnoor Road, Honganoor, Tal Channapatna, Dist : Bangalore Rural
Scout PRITVI
Mohammed Wakeel, a sericulturist has developed a trap to control the Uzi fly in silk worm rearing. The trap consists of a net, a small iron pipe and a plastic bottle with holes bored into it. It is fixed at the windows of the silkworm rearing room and entices the female Uzi fly which gets trapped inside and dies. The use of the trap contributes to increased yield and better quality of the cocoons. It costs Rs. 50 and about 250 farmers in the area are already using this trap. This device addresses one of the major problems faced by sericulture farmers namely a tachnid fly, popularly known as Uzi fly (Exorista bombycis) which is an endo-parasitoid of the delicate silk-worm and causes 15-20% crop loss annually. For his outstanding contributions, Wakeel has received certificates from the Department of Sericulture, Government of Karnataka as the Best Silk-Worm Grower and his name also finds a mention in the bi-monthly magazine brought out by the Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute (CSRTI), Mysore. He has also successfully formulated a powder for the treatment and control of the sunnakutta roga (White Muscardine), a fungal disease affecting silkworms in the trays.
NIF has sanctioned an amount of Rs. 31,250 from its Micro Venture Innovation Fund for the development of the prototype and market survey of this innovation.
The control of leaf curl disease in brinjal
Popatbhai Rupabhai Jambucha
Vill : Mathavada, PO Sathara
Via : Trapaj, Tal :Talaja
Bhavnagar 364150
Popatbhai, a farmer, from Gujarat uses marine algae for the control of leaf curl disease in brinjal crop. Due to this disease, the leaves of the brinjal curl and sometimes, the plant dries up totally. To counter this, marine algae is collected and dried. The algae is soaked in water overnight and in the morning the algae is squeezed and the water is collected. This water is filtered and filled in a hand-pump and sprayed on the affected brinjal crop. The method was tested by the Sadbhav SRISTI Sansodhan Lab and it was found that 30-35% of leaf curl disease in brinjal and chillies can be controlled by spraying this formulation. This practice is a traditional knowledge and 20% of the villagers use it. The farmer learnt it from his fore-fathers.
Popathbhai is an assistant teacher of Agriculture at Lokshala (secondary school), Kalasar. Though he has no training in agriculture, he conducts many experiments in his lab and implements the successful ones in the field.
The control of aphids in cotton
Takhatsing Patel
Damai, Shhera, Panchmahals, Gujarat
Scout : Ramesh Kumar Patel
Takhatsing Patel has developed a herbal pesticide to control aphids in the cotton plant. Aphids are pests which suck the sap from the leaves and bolls of cotton and cause heavy damage to the crop. Takhatsing uses a mixture of the leaves of Karanj (Pongamia pinnata) and Arni (Clerodendrum phlomides), which are cut and boiled in water. The decoction, after it cools down, is sprayed on the plant. Field trials conducted by Sadbhav SRISTI Sanshodhan Lab in Khodiyar village showed a 50% control of aphids.
Takhatsing got this idea when he noticed that karanj and arni plants were never attacked by pests.
The groundnut sowing practice
P.B.Mukunthan
92, Rajaji Street, Chinglepet 603001
Scout : SEVA
Mukunthan has developed a sowing technique for groundnut crop. The method involves creation of a raised bed with furrows on both sides. The seeds are then dribbled in a triangular shape. The technique saves labor and conserves water without any loss in the yield of the crop. This method also reduces seed rate (10 kg of groundnut seeds are saved per acre) and cost of weeding. Water requirement is reduced by about 62% and this method facilitates faster irrigation and maintains good soil aeration. The crop is also easier to harvest compared to plants sowed conventionally. According to M S Basu of the National Research Center for Groundnut, the advantages claimed by this practice have a scientific base.
Mukunthan has been practising organic farming for the past 15 years. His other innovations include the use of water hyacinth as green manure and for mulching and the design of a country seed drill which delivers four seeds with a spacing of nine inches.
A new valve modification for two-stroke engines
D. Subramaniam
PRS Road, Muthiyan Kovil, PO Chennimalai, Erode 638051
D. Subramaniam has developed a two-stroke engine for two-wheelers which reduces petrol expenses and reduces environmental pollution. Current petrol engines of two-wheelers function under two-stroke system or four-stroke system. But the two-stroke engine causes leakage of petrol-air mixture and leads to environmental pollution and wastage of fuel running into crores of rupees. The Government has banned two-wheelers using two-stroke engines from the metropolitan cities like Delhi. But the two-stroke engine has a higher pick-up than the existing four-stroke engines. So Subramaniam decided to modify it to overcome this drawback. In his modified engine, the smoke outlet has been located at the top of the cylinder, so the petrol mixture does not mix with the smoke and there is no possibility of leakage. For two-stroke engines with more rpm, he has used two valves, at the top of the cylinder, which work alternatively as smoke outlets.
This innovation was published in ‘Dinamalar’, a leading Tamil
Daily in 1999 and Subramaniam was awarded the “Tamil Nadu Scientists Award” by The Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology in 2001. The
valve has also been tested and approved by the Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Kongu Engineering College in Erode.
Subramaniam has also designed a new metric system for a clock and a new method of bio-gas production.
Bicycle operated pump
Vikram Rathore
Jaitram Tanda, PO Naraspur Mandal
OOtnoor, Via Indraveli, Adilabad
Vikram Rathore has developed a cycle operated pump which can be used for pumping water from rivers, ponds, wells and other water sources. The system comprises a bicycle, rim, belt-pulley, impeller and inlet and delivery pipes. It works with the energy generated by pedalling the cycle and requires neither diesel nor electricity. The pump is portable, requires little maintenance and gives maximum output of water with minimum input of effort. As it is made of locally available materials it is also affordable to the common man.
When he came up with the idea for this innovation, his circumstances were very impoverished and he had to sell the jowar he had saved for food to buy an old cycle. Later an ITDA project officer of Utnoor came to know of his innovation and ITDA supported him to make an improved model of the pump.
The pump will be a boon for poor farmers who are unable to afford an electric or diesel run pump for irrigation in drought prone areas. Despite attempts to patent it, the technology has not diffused. NIF has now filed a patent for this device.
The eco-friendly non-return valve for vehicles
Arvind Khandke
117/B, Mahadwar Road, Kolhapur 416012
Arvind Khandke has developed a non-return valve for four stroke engines. The use of the non-return valve to supply air at the inlet of the carburetor helps the air-fuel mixture to retain the composition and pressure and prevents air from escaping out of the combustion chamber. This increases the volumetric efficiency and achieves complete combustion in the engine. It saves fuel by about 20 to 30%, improves the air-fuel mixture, increases average mileage of the vehicle by 3%, and reduces the emission of carbon monoxide and other hydrocarbons from the inlet side of the engine. It assists in compliance to Euro II standards. Measurements have shown CO emission reduced by 19% and hydrocarbon by 82%. However, the valve has to be replaced after 25,000 kms.
Khandke’s technology proves the contribution of “Bounce Back Losses”, due to incomplete combustion of petrol, in causing pollution. Scientists have so far been engaged in trying to reduce the air pollution from the exhaust pipe. The device has major implications for pollution control. Khandke was granted patent for using the device on a two-stroke engine in 1994 and on a four stroke engine in 2001.
The bamboo splints making machine
Usman Shekhani
Karma Shala Upakaran, Udyog, C/o Radio Corner, Bhanupratappur
Dist Kanker
Usman Shekhani has developed a specialised bamboo cutter to cut bamboo strips into small pieces for preparing incense sticks (Agarbatti) and toothpicks. It consists of a wooden bracket, high speed steel blades, asjustable screws and spring loaded pushing roller. According to the Mechanichal Engineering Department Labaratory of Rungta College of Engineering in Bhilai, this machine can help in converting 95% of the bamboo into useful product.
The quality of the output is good, the machine is portable, requires no electricity and maintenance cost is minimal. It also increases the efficiency of bamboo workers as 2000 sticks can be manufactured per hour using this device whereas previously this work was done manually. The cost of the cutter is Rs. 450 compared to the cost of bamboo cutting machines available in the market which is Rs.70, 000 This device can provide gainful employment to lakhs of rural people in the cottage industry sector. Usman Shekhani has sold over 2000 pieces of his machine and trained over 2000 people in using it and has received a very good response especially in Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh which have a flourishing agarbatti industry.
The cycle operated horse shaver
Mohammed Idris
Shahid Pan Bhandar, House No 37, Lisadi Road, Tarapuri, Opposite Jaton Wali Gali, Meerut
Scout : GIAN North and Kamal Jeet Miglani
Mohammed Idris has developed a bicycle powered horse–shaving unit in which the power of the bicycle rotary drive is transferred via speed cable to the clippers which cuts the hair. It requires no electricity and needs two people to operate it. One drives the cycle in standing mode and the other uses the shaver. The device removes the drudgery of manually combing, sorting, gradual cutting and final finishing of the horse’s hair which takes hours. The shaver is a detachable feature; hence the basic functioning of the bicycle is not affected. This machine caters to the need for an effective and low-cost alternative for shaving the hair of horses, mules, sheep and camels. The motor powered shear units are expensive and the hand shears do not achieve uniform cutting action.
According to the Director of the Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Dr. V K Singh, the device in its present form can be used on camels and marwari sheep (whose hair is coarser than ordinary sheep) and with some modifications can be used on ordinary sheep also.
NIF has sanctioned a sum of Rs. 25,000 from its Micro Venture Innovation Fund for the product development and demand estimation of the device.
Roof tile-making machine
Sukhranjan Mistry
Dev Nagar, Shakti Farm Bazaar, Udhamsingh Nagar, Uttaranchal.
Scout: SRISTI Gyan Kendra and Kamal Jeet Miglani
Sukhranjan Mistry has developed a manual tile-making machine which can be operated by sitting down and pedalling. The unit incorporates a facility for constantly agitating the tile-mixture to remove air-bubbles. The time taken for making each tile is one minute and the capacity is about 300 tiles in a day. It can also make tiles in multiple designs. The configuration is ergonomic and economical and running and maintenance costs are negligible. If produced commercially it would cater to the large need for a cheap and effective foot-operated device. Women can also work on this machine, generating additional revenue for the family. Mistry is not interested in personally commercializing the technology but is open to offers
from others. |
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| Volume No. |
Honey Bee, 16(2):7-11, 2005 |
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