Mangaluru: Innovator and farmer, Ganapathi Bhat from the village of Sagipamuda has answered the prayers of many arecanut farmers across the country by inventing the first- of-its-kind tree climbing scooter.
India is the largest arecanut producer in the world and in the country, Karnataka is the leading producer. Like many farmers in Karnataka, Ganapathi also does arecanut farming and used to be troubled with many difficulties that comes with harvesting the produce. As he grew older, it became difficult for him to climb the tree which was as tall as a six-storeyed building. The high labour cost was also creating added problems to him.
The idea to build the scooter came to him when he was observing the trees getting fumigated using a machine as there is a lack of skilled workers for the process. If machines can pump pesticides to the top with such accuracy, then why can’t a machine climb to the top? This thought made Ganapathi to set to work and create the tree climbing scooter.
This machine which is one-of-a-kind gift to the farming industry is the perfect combination of skill and design. Equipped with special grip moulded tyres, dual side disc brakes, double chain system and two stroke engines and accelerator, this machine gets the job done much faster.
“Using this machine, a person can climb a tree in less than a minute,” said Ganapathi. Now the farmers do not have to reply on hiring anyone and can get the job done themselves, he added.
Ganapathi said that with one litre of petrol, the machine can climb up to 80 trees and one more added feature of it is that while climbing down, no petrol is lost as one has to simply switch off the machine.
“The machine is completely safe and has a high-grade shock absorber and the wheel especially is engineered to give a good grip,” he said. The machine can hold up to 75 to 80 kgs of weight and he says that even women can climb the scooter.
The machine was built towards the end of May 2019 and so far, Ganapathi has given more than 500 demos across Karnataka and Kerala and has sold more than 700 machines. “Kerala government has given me a subsidy which has reduced the cost of production and selling,” he said.
Providing new strength to the Make in India movement, this tree climbing scooter which is manufactured in a factory located in Shivamogga, employs almost 40 workers who could not find work anywhere else. Ganapathi dreams that one day he will be able to employ and support almost 500 workers.
The machine came to life with the help of engineer Shervin Maben and together they have created a new machine which can be used to climb coconut trees.
Even though companies like Mahindra have approached him for the machine, he decided to sell the products by himself, claiming that companies might increase the price of the product and thus burdening the farmers.
Ganapathi with his tree climbing scooter has added new strength to make in India movement. His invention has opened up new possibilities and have surely left its mark in the Indian farming industry.
