Efficient, labour-saving machine for harvesting and cleaning turmeric

Among various cash crops, turmeric has a potential market value all through the year since it is mainly used as a value added product.

Erode is a turmeric cultivating hub in Tamil Nadu and almost all farmers in the region are growing this crop.

But the main issue with this crop is that like paddy, it is labour intensive. A huge labour force is required for weeding, earthing, fertilizer application, harvesting and polishing.

“If not harvested on time the crop gets affected by fungal infestation. And in many villages today sourcing manual labour remains a problem. For an acre, about 300 (110 male and 190 female) labourers are required. In engaging them, a farmer gets drained physically and economically,” says Dr. S. Saravanakumar, Agronomist, Myrada, Gobichettypalayam.

One year idea

While this is the current scenario in the region, a small turmeric farmer Mr. P. Ramaraju, has developed a machine to harvest the crop on time. He worked on the idea for a year to design an efficient harvester.

“In the past I suffered huge losses because I was not able to source labour on time. Determined to find a solution I thought of working on a machine which could harvest the rhizomes so that a large labour would not be required,” says Mr. Ramaraju.

Accordingly, he designed a power tiller that requires 13 HP power to run it. The machine consists of a shaft connected to small diggers, arm and shaker. While operating this machinery, the diggers pull out the turmeric clumps from the soil and loosen the earth with the help of the shaker.

Capacity

The field capacity of this harvester was tested in different soil conditions and it was found that seven hours are required for harvesting one acre of turmeric.

However, some preconditions are required such as the space between the rows must be 1.5 – 2 feet, the furrows must be lengthy and broad. It is best suited for fields installed with a drip irrigation system.

“Since turmeric is cultivated under a raised bed system, we thought some refinement is needed in order to deploy this machinery in different types of soil and methods of cultivation. Based on the farmer’s feedback, we modified the machine with some more ideas from the farmer. This intervention has proved the efficiency of the harvester to the farmers through demonstrations and is documented,” says Dr. Saravanakumar.

“It is a labour-saving equipment and requires only one male and 15-20 women labourers to collect the harvested rhizomes from an acre whereas in manual harvesting 40 pairs of labourers may be required costing Rs.14,000 – 16,000. By using this harvester one can save upto Rs 7,000 – 9,000 per acre,” says Mr. Ramaraju.

One litre of diesel

The machine consumes one litre of diesel an hour which a small farmer can easily afford. A special attachment also shakes the harvested rhizomes so that the soil on them drops to the field, leaving the rhizomes clear for collection.

The innovator has demonstrated the performance of his machine in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and till date has been able to sell about 172 harvesters priced at Rs.30,000 each.

Servicing

Like all machines, this harvester also needs to be serviced regularly. Unlike tractors, machines like these developed by small innovators face servicing problems. But Mr. Ramaraju has been offering suggestions and also visiting the places to service he machine.

Farmers from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have visited his farm to know about the field suitability of the machine. His innovation was recognised by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi and he was honoured as a ‘Best Farmer Innovator’ in 2010 during the national farm innovators meet.

For more details interested farmers can contact Mr.P. Ramaraju, Pudhupalayam, Gettisamudram post, Anthiyur Taluk, Erode district – 638 501, TamilNadu, mobile:9865171790.

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Planting of crops expected to pick up substantially as monsoon strengthens

NEW DELHI: A week of surplus rainfall has filled up reservoirs to a level above the 10-year average and helped the monsoon deficit contract further to 24%, further easing the situation which was taking alarming proportions after six weeks of drought-like conditions that have delayed crop planting. 

RRainfall was 24% above normal in the past seven days, bouncing back from a deficit of 15% in the previous week and much drier phases before that. This filled the country's major reservoirs to 35% of the total capacity of 155.05 billion cubic metres, down from 51% last year, but better than the 10-year average of 34%. 

"The situation has improved, but we are still not comfortable. Only when the seasonal rainfall deficit goes to 10%, the reservoir levels will be in good position," said AB Pandya, chairman of state-run Central Water Commission. 

Pandya said the state governments could decide on allocating water only for drinking or in some cases for irrigation depending on the reservoir position. "Kharif sowing has been delayed this year and the state governments can provide water for irrigation if there is gap in monsoon," he said. 

The commission which monitors 85 important reservoirs of the country on a weekly basis, said the states of Punjab, Odisha and Chhattisgarh had better storage than last year for corresponding period. The situation was not similar in Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. 

"We expect the situation to improve in the coming days," said Pandya. Reservoirs normally fill up rapidly in July and create a water reserve for irrigation, drinking and power generation until the following year's monsoon. 

ata from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) showed that 41% of the country has received normal rainfall this season, as it rained heavily every day in most regions except northern and north western parts. 

On Thursday, it was 10% above average. 

With heavy rains recorded over central India, west Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat region, Saurashtra, Kutch, Vidarbha, Madhya Maharashtra,Konkan and Goa. 

In the next 24 hours, the Met department has forecast heavy rainfall to occur at isolated places over Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Uttarakhand, Saurashtra, Kutch, Konkan, Goa, Assam , Meghalaya and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. 

Officials said planting of crops, particularly cotton, soybean, paddy which was at half of last year's level, is expected to pick up substantially as the monsoon had strengthened. Crops such as maize, bajra, and other coarse cereals could also be sown during this period. 

So far, rainfall is 20%-24% in deficit in the southern, eastern and central parts of the country. In the north and northwestern regions, the deficit is 36%. In Punjab, Haryana and western UP, the seasonal deficit is more than 50%. While most of the farms in Punjab and Haryana have access to good irrigation facilities, monsoon rainfall also influences productivity of crops. 

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Government allows cultivation of genetically modified crops after full scientific evaluation

NEW DELHI: The government allows cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops after full scientific evaluation of biosafety and impact on environment as well as on consumers, Parliament was informed today.

In India, cotton is the only GM crop (Bt cotton) approved for commercial cultivation.

"The government policy is to allow GM crops after full scientific evaluation of its biosafety and impact on the environment and on the consumers," Minister of State for Agriculture Sanjeev Kumar Balyan said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

"The government follows the policy of 'case to case basis' for approval of GM crops," he added. 

Replying to a separate question, the minister said the area under Bt cotton has gone up significantly. Share of Bt cotton in the total cotton area has increased from 91.47 per cent in 2011-12 to 93.99 per cent in 2013-14.

"Total production of cotton has also increased from 35.2 million bales (of 170 kg each) in 2011-12 to 36.5 million bales in 2013-14," Balyan said.