Climbing trees has just gotten easy. Find out how, and more on farm innovations, in this series of 'Grassroot Innovations'.

1. Grassroots
Innovations - III

2. Shodh yatra, organized by SRISTI in association with NIF and GIAN, is a walk by a
team of volunteers through villages to scout for innovations and traditional
knowledge with an idea to collect and conserve them. Earlier this year I had the
opportunity to be a part of the Shodh yatra through the Wardha district in
Maharashtra.
On the trip I learnt the value of grassroots innovations and their relevance in a
larger context. The innovators may not be educated to know all the technical terms
but their understanding of technology and science is terrific! This inspired me to
make a resource which would show people how innovation can arise even without
formal education - how a basic need to help one's self can give rise to beautiful
innovations!
Here are a few of the innovations discovered by SRISTI. I hope they are as much
a source of inspiration for you as they have been for me.
Neel Tamhane
(Neel is pursuing an engineering course in Solar and Alternative Energy and is very
passionate about the environment and social enterprises that address
environmental concerns. He has a keen interest in renewable energy and believes
that the we must cease to depend on fossil fuels and turn to more sustainable and
clean energy sources for a better future. He can be reached at
neeltamhane@gmail.com)

3. M J Joseph alias Appachan – tree
climbing app
• The device is used to climb on tall palms to
pluck fruits and apply pesticides.
• Cuts down climbing time to 1/4 when
compared to the traditional method and
also enhances safety.
• Alternate application: As a climbing device
for electric posts.
M J Joseph alias
Appachan is an
innovative farmer
He has studied
upto fourth
standard only.
(for financial
reasons)
http://bit.ly/13GkGLO

4. Appachan’s tree climbing apparatus

5. RaghavGowda, Karnataka- Milking
machines
• This machine was awarded the NIF
sponsored state award for grass root level
innovation in the year 2005.
• This low cost milking machine is in use at
more than 500 houses in Karnataka. The
machine has been distributed in all parts
of India including Srinagar, and hill areas
of Assam.
A hand operated
milking machine is
an innovative
machine developed
by Mr. Raghava
Gowda, a primary
school teacher and
farmer from a small
village near
Mangalore.
http://bit.ly/18VGifY

6. Hand operated milking machine

7. DharamveerKamboj - Multipurpose
FoodProcessingMachine
• This machine is a multipurpose device capable
of pulverizing and extracting oil/gel from
various herbs
• The unit can process 100 kilograms of Aloe
vera in an hour. About 1.25 kilograms of Aloe
vera leaves are converted to 1 litre of gel in the
unit.
• It can produce 150 litres of soya milk in an
hour.
A multipurpose
food processing
machine that
facilitates on-farm
processing of
herbs, flowers and
fruits, has been
developed by
Dharamveer
Kamboj (45), a
farmer, herbalist
and an innovator.
http://bit.ly/13A9Nw0

8. • Dharamveer Kamboj - Multipurpose Food Processing Machine

9. Would like to thank the following for their amazing discoveries
and support to such innovators!
Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable
Technologies and Institutions
www.SRISTI.org
Grassroots Innovation Augmentation Network
www.GIAN.org
National Innovation Foundation
www.NIFindia.org
India Innovates
http://www.discoverychannel.co.in/
Honey bee network
Dr. Anil K Gupta - Anilg@sristi.org