IIT Madras and an NGO have developed a unique, cost-effective agricultural transport system.
What’s it about? Researchers at IIT Madras and a farmer NGO Pothu Vivasayeegal Sangam successfully tested a prototype transportation system to address the labour shortage in the agricultural sector. It was tested at a farm in Nanjai Thottakurichi village in the Karur district.
- It’s a lightweight monorail-type system that can economically carry agricultural produce from the fields to collection points. It’s made in local workshops from locally sourced parts.
- It can be easily installed and doesn’t hurt the environment since it passes over the ground. Additional rails and posts can be added, and the trolleys could be powered by solar energy.
Necessity: Indian farming has a labour shortage, especially in the post-harvest season when transporting produce becomes important. In wetland farms, the problem is acute since farmers have to traverse waterlogged lands.