Forced To Sell Bullocks, Farmer Invents An Even Better Ploughing Machine From Bicycle Parts!

Faced with drought, a farmer from Chahnehra village in Banda district of Bundelkhand region has built a low-cost ploughing machine. He used an old bicycle, iron pieces for ploughing agriculture fields.

Sarath Kuchi / flickr

The innovative machine costs between Rs 3,000 and Rs 4,000, making it cheaper than traditional and mechanical ploughs. It could also perform several other functions such as weeding and sowing. Ram Prasad, 50, who hires farm land on 'batai', thought of inventing a machine to solve the problems of ordinary farmers of the region who are facing nature's fury, including recurring droughts and untimely rains.

"Adversity of nature in Bundelkhand forced my families to sell their bullocks. In fact, most of the farmers are unable to bear the maintenance cost of tractor or even bullocks due to huge losses," said Ram Prasad. He added that a farmer has to spend around Rs 50,000 for a pair of bullocks or Rs 5 lakhs for purchasing a tractor. On both, he will have to incur a huge sum in terms of fodder and kerosene or diesel.

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"After struggling for seven-eight years and several rounds of trials and errors, I managed to design the machine from an old bicycle which was lying as crap in the backyard of my house. I have also helped many farmers by converting their old bicycles into a ploughing machine," Ram Prasad informed.

The machine has a single wheel with three diggers attached, besides a front and a rear handle and can be used for multi-purpose agriculture work such as weeding out grass, ploughing, sowing seeds and mixing soil with fertilisers as well as manure. "My ploughing machine doesn't require kerosene or diesel. It only requires two persons," he said with a smile on his face.

Villagers of Chahnehra, who initially used to make a mockery of Ram Prasad, now praise his invention. "Ram Prasad has proved that where there is a will, there is a way," said Mohd Talha, his neighbour.