• PAGE ONE
• INDEX
• HOME

Hi-tech harvest

Chittoor P. Krishnan

Animal-lovers will love to see this new equipment dot the countryside soon. For decades, technological innovations in equipment used by small farmers have remained in cold-storage. The recent launch of the bullockwala tractor (multi-functional agricultur al equipment) can fill the wide gap between the traditional plough and the tractor. New Delhi-based Bharatiya Cattle Resource Development Foundation has made significant improvements in the original prototypes pioneered by Bhopal-based Central Agricultur al Engineering Institute.

The new, environment-friendly implement comes with an improved yoke, disc harrows, cultivator with five tines, two traditional ploughs, a mould-board plough, sub-soiler and ridger, a self-cooling water-bottle, a first-aid kit and an umbrella. The only mo ving parts are the two wheels.

The advantage of the improved yoke lies in its design -- the increased contact area on the bullock's neck and humps will decrease chances of wounds and increase efficiency by 20-25 per cent.

With a subsidy of Rs 8,000 from the Animal Welfare Board of India, the equipment costs Rs 9,600 each.

Unlike in traditional ploughing, where a farmer has to trod nearly 28 km to plough an acre of land, the bullockwala tractor enables the farmer to sit atop the contraption. The tractor also cuts ploughing time by five hours. Even women find it effortless to operate.

Beware! Another male bastion is up for storming.