Farmer invents groundnut harvester, awaits nod

K Raja (51) of Palleri village in Wallajahpet taluk, who has studied till Class 5, developed an interest in agriculture and in a bid to make difficult farming jobs easier, after many attempts, he invented the harvester.

Speaking to DTNext, he said, “Having five acres of land, my family cultivates groundnut, cane and paddy. I know the problems involved in harvesting groundnut. Though the government’s agricultural engineering wing did offer us a machine for the same purpose, it resulted in groundnut pods breaking and eventually, the plant was getting wasted.”

He explained, “Farmers, after taking the groundnut plant’s pods, use it as fodder for livestock. While using the government-provided machine, the plant was getting wasted. It can’t be used for animals too. Also, as the government machine breaks the pods, it results in the groundnuts having a stale taste.”

Raja has made six such contraptions so far that are being sold for Rs 28,000 to Rs 32,000. “The machine can run on either kerosene or petrol. For nearly eight hours, it needs six litres of fuel,” Raja said. “While an expert picker can pluck 30 kg of groundnut (dry) in eight hours, the machine can pluck 12 bags (42 kg each) in the same time,” he said.

 

After Vellore Collector SA Raman came to know about this, he asked the DIC to extend a loan to Raja. Though he applied for the loan with all the necessary documents, he is waiting for it to be approved.

“I sought Rs 20 lakh, but was promised only Rs 10 lakh. I am now waiting for that also. Once the money is disbursed, I will plan the commercial manufacture of the machine,” he added.