Date:20/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/20/stories/2008042050430200.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Sugarcane harvester to reduce costs

Staff Reporter

Pulkal (Medak): Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) extension department tested a sugarcane harvester here on Saturday and suggested certain changes in its design for use in districts like Medak, which face labour crunch. The harvester manufactured in India by Mahindra and Mahindra Limited in collaboration with ESM of Germany has the capacity of harvest two acres of cane in just one hour. Around twenty progressive farmers participated in the demonstration.

Compatible version

Speaking to The Hindu, director of extension L.G. Giri Rao said that the earlier version of the harvester was a bit too big and expensive.

The newer version offered by the manufactures is cheaper as a farmer could own his harvester for as cheap as Rs. 1.25 lakh. The machine would have to be mounted on a tractor.

The machine could also be used for harvesting maize, fodder, bajra, jowar and even sunflower.

Changes advised

However, ANGRAU experts asked the manufacturers to do some minor refinements so that the machines could be put to use from next year.

The Government is keen on offering the new advanced harvester on subsidy to farmers to save them heavy production costs.