BELGAUM:
Ashok Malagouda Patil, an organic farmer turned mechanical engineer has designed a new machine for sugarcane harvesting, which could be a panacea for the sugar industry hit by labour shortage.
A BSc (agriculture) holder, Patil has developed the cane harvesting and conveyer machine and received patent for it. The machine has been developed targeting small and medium farmers, providing them with a low cost option to harvest their produce applying minimum number of labourers.
The new machine can bring down harvesting cost to just 25% of labour harvesting, claims Patil. At present, factories harvest sugarcane crop from the lands of farmers sending labour troops on their behalf. With the use of the new machine, they can get the work done with just a handful of workers, he said.
While a similar imported machine costs about Rs one crore, the indigenously developed machine will cost below Rs 25 crore. “Several multi-national companies have approached me for buying the machine. It will be made available in the market by next year,” said Patil.
Apart from being cost effective, the machine is efficient in terms of speed, and ground level cane cutting, in a variety of climates. Patil has also developed machines to cut one eyed cane, grass and bushes and for mixing molasses and organic fertilizer.
His decade long experience in the sugarcane industry came in handy for Patil while developing this unique machine. Hailing from Beniwad village in Hukkeri taluk, Patil who is now the managing director of Hiranyakeshi Sugar Factory in Sankeshwar, has developed three similar machines with various capacities of cane cutting. His 18.5 HP machine harvests four metric tonnes (MTs) of sugarcane in an hour and loads to truck automatically. Another 35HP machine harvests 10 MTs, while a 60HP machine harvests 12MTs in an hour.
Patil has received various awards from different institutions including the national award for innovation in farming. Contact- 9448990860.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / by Ravi Uppar / TNN / June 07th, 2011