Like farmers, agricultural innovators from AP and Telangana rue negligence meted out to them from public and private institutions despite producing ideas that have been tried and tested.
Innovations in agriculture was part of Innofest organised at the newly inaugurated T-Hub at International Institute of Information Technology here on Saturday. Brimming with ideas at various phases of their lifecycle, innovations from agriculture clearly stood out; they had been tried, tested and in most cases, deployed. For the innovators, however, the event was yet another prospective opportunity but one that may not help them find takers.
“Agriculture is not taken seriously in India. Innovations such as mine have received recognition but have not been promoted adequately. We do not receive financial support either from the government or any private entity though we demonstrate a working product with immense benefit,” said D. Babu Rao, a farmer from Vizianagaram district, who invented a pull-cart style contraption that can simultaneously plant multiple seeds, spray it with fertilizer and cover the top soil, saving farmers several man-days of work while assuring greater efficiency than conventional farming. According to Mr. Rao, the cost of farming per acre is lowered to Rs. 1,000 per acre as against several thousands that farmers have to shell out today.
Twelve other real-world innovations were put on display in a corner which did not see as many visitors as other sections of the fest. One of them, a water hyacinth remover, has been used by the GHMC in more than six lakes of the city. The innovators said they hoped the State’s IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao, who saw their innovations during the fest’s inauguration, recognises their ideas.
The fest also help showcase T-Hub which angel investor and former Infosys board member, who spoke at the fest, highly appreciated.
