Farmer's invention promises to cut costs

hubli: abdul khader imamsab nadakattina, self-made `scientist-farmer'' of annigeri village, has come out with one more innovation. this time he has developed a process to sharpen the harrow blades of tractors, in collaboration with the university of agricultural sciences (uas), dharwad. uas vice-chancellor s.a. patil said the new process reduces fuel consumption by nearly 5 litres a day, besides the cost of sharpening the blades.``saving diesel and cost of re-sharpening the blades amounts to nearly rs 4,000 in 10 working days. if this process is adopted across the nation, billions of rupees can be saved and the cost of cultivation can come down," patil suggested. ``farmers are already using the process and are convinced it is cost-effective." the state government has also assisted in putting his ideas into practice. ``he has invented many other implements over the past 20 years which need to be popularised, so many other people can also benefit." state agriculture minister t.b. jayachandra, principal secretary of the finance department chiranjeevi singh, uas v-c s.a. patil and many scientists and experts recently visited annigeri to study the new process for sharpening harrow blades, and have appreciated the development. khader, caught up in a fulfilling life of creating new equipment, has slipped into a debt trap. he took a number of loans so he could dedicate himself to changing agri-economic life. now khader makes an appeal: ``i disposed of 40 acres of my agricultural land for research and my loans are yet to be paid up. i request the government and farmers to utilise the new innovation and bail me out of this financial mess.'''' khader was under the impression that his 15 agro implements would reach farmers across the nation. he converted his 16-acre land into a horticultural farm, but failed. he then found success in agro-forestry. a native of annigeri village in navalgund taluk of dharwad, khader is known to many as `hunase huccha'' (tamarind maniac), and the 1,700 healthy tamarind trees stand, epitomising the success of the man and justify his title. he is also called the `anna hazare of annigeri''. khader, by creating six ponds to store water and through his lush green tamarind farm, has raised the water level in the village. he has irrigated 16 acres of tamarind orchard with the help of only two borewells and a pumpset of 3hp capacity. ask anyone for directions to `vishwashanti farm house'', and you will be promptly taken there. says khader, ``the farm house should be a model for communal harmony''''.