Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Aug 25: A self-taught man from Kulanje here takes credit for creating paddy harvester machine that he manufactured at a cost of less than Rs 30,000, a handcart powered by the engine of an auto rickshaw, machine to bring out mud when digging well etc. This rural-based engineer who can give life to ordinary things is Kulanje Kundukodlu Babu Naik from Kulanje within Shankaranarayana village limits in the taluk.

Babu, a farmer by profession, has immense interest in the designs and functioning of machinery and equipment. His creativity has given birth to several agricultural machinery. He uses simple things like those which are about to be scrapped, to make machines that are helpful. It is not possible to make harvester machine in Rs 40,000 but Babu has achieved it. By utilizing auto rickshaw engine, and by using useless things he has prepared harvester machine by adding new tyres and steel seat. He has found that this machine functions better than the other harvesters.

Babu had taken his auto rickshaw for making scrap out of it. However, after being offered a very low price for the same, he brought it back, used its spare parts, and decided to make a handcart to carry manure, mud etc to the farm. He created a design of tempo in engineering works, fitted an auto rickshaw engine, and fitted gears and brakes. This handcart is working very well. It can carry 25 basketfuls of mud or manure together in even narrow paths. It can scale places in higher gradient easily.

He has further simplified the machine he had prepared to lift mud from inside the new well. This machine can be operated by one person who gets seated in the machine. It works at high speed and with efficiency. He also has made cono weeders and given to several friends. He also has made equipment that are helpful in agricultural activities.

Babu Naik also is interested in improving agricultural operations and getting higher yields. He has planted Yantrashree paddy seedlings. He is also involved with cultivation of arecanut coconut and dairying. But his mechanical knowledge baffles people. He had studied till the eighth standard but has excellent knowledge about how the machines work, and what function every spare part does. He experiments and finds for himself the working of machines. He phone number is 9481918752.

Babu Naik Kulanje says that he has made many agricultural equipment by using things which would have otherwise been treated as scrap. However, they are for the use of locals. He says he works towards simplifying the machines and making them more effective. He says he is happy at the success of handcart, harvester machine, and machine to lift mud from under construction well. He admits that he derives immense happiness out of these things.