Dhakuakhana youth Mrinal Sarmah comes up with low-cost power tiller

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: A youth of Dhakuakhana subdivision of Lakhimpur district has attracted the attention of conscious citizens as well as the farmers' community with his unique innovative quality. Of late, this highly educated youth, named Mrinal Sarmah, living at Bahpora under Matmora Gaon Panchayat area of the subdivision, has designed a power tiller with low investment. The innovator has made this power tiller by just using a water pumping machine with the capacity of 5 horsepower ( hp) at the cost of only Rs 30,000. At a time when the market price of a common power tiller is Rs. 2,30,000 to Rs 2,50,000, the innovation of the low-cost power tiller has brought a ray of hope to the small farmers.

By using this power tiller innovated by Mrinal Sarmah, more than two bighas of land can be tilled within one hour by investing only one litre of diesel. It can work for more than one hour by burning per litre of the fuel. Mrinal Sarmah has cultivated the Rabi crops, such as potatoes and seasonal vegetables by tilling the land with this power tiller. The powerful Kirlosker 5HP air cooled diesel engine is used to make this whole machinery. The rotavator can be joined and removed easily to and from the main body of the power tiller. On the other hand, no gear-box is installed in it in view of reducing maintenance charge and special technique is maintained to control it. People of the subdivision thronged his house to see the new innovation. Further, the officers of the Dhakuakhana Subdivisional Office of the Agriculture Department have also highly appreciated Mrinal Sarmah for this innovation.

The main significant point of this power tiller is that it costs only Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 40,000 while farmers have to spend more than Rs. 2,30,000 to buy the common power tillers from the market.

Regarding his innovation, Mrinal Sarmah said that the use of the low cost power tiller would have a positive impact on the life of farmers and socio-economic environment of rural areas.

"There is no maintenance cost for this machinery. But maintenance cost of the power tillers purchased from the market is very high. Our small farmers can have it with a little endeavour of their own. I am ready to help the interested farmers by providing technical support," Mrinal Sarmah said. He is now busy designing a paddy planting machine.

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