- Low-cost, electricity-free solution designed by student–teacher duo gains wide recognition
Bhopal: Student Basant Chandal and associate teacher Badrinarayan Biswal from Government Advanced Higher Secondary School, Majhidhanua, Nabarangpur district, Odisha, have developed a smart agricultural tool aimed at reducing the physical and financial burden on farmers. Their innovation emerged from observing the hardships farmers face daily—excessive dependence on manual labor, high machinery costs, traditional and inefficient crop drying methods, declining physical health, and frequent power outages.
Motivated by these challenges, the duo created a practical device based on the “one person, one machine” concept. The tool is designed to streamline farm work while protecting farmers’ health. It performs multiple tasks simultaneously—packing, sifting, weighing, and drying—without requiring the user to bend or apply extra physical effort. Completely electricity-free and affordable, it is easy to operate by any farmer, regardless of age, gender, or technical background.
A breakthrough: Sushil Jain
During an inspection of the equipment, Sushil Kumar Jain praised the innovation, describing it as a breakthrough that can be operated by both affected and unaffected farmers without any qualifications. He emphasized its ability to replace the labor of nearly ten people with just one operator, allowing significant savings in labor, energy, and cost.
The tool was also showcased in Bhopal, where experts appreciated its simplicity, efficiency, and relevance to real-world conditions. Its recognition in the state capital highlights its potential to benefit farmers across the country.
