India's rural innovators have proved that ordinary people are indeed capable of extraordinary inventions. Despite many constraints -- lack of education and severe cash crunch -- most of them have succeeded in using technology cost-effectively to build ingenious products. A washing-cum-exercise machine, hand operated water lifting device, portable smokeless stove, automatic food making machine, solar mosquito killer, shock proof converter, a floating toilet soap are few of the products on display...

The use of fertilisers for agriculture in India has risen astronomically in the last 60 years, resulting in deterioration of soil health in many parts of the country, particularly the intensively cultivated Indo-Gangetic plains, also known as the “Great Plains”. In 1951-52, fertilizer usage in the country averaged less than one kg per hectare, which has now risen to 133 kg per hectare, according to information given on the Department of...

Prof Rajneesh K Sharma and Satendra K Yadav, Department of Zoology, Kurukshetra University, have invented a machine to obtain green Manure from dead leaves. They have named it — “Dry Leaves Manure Maker”. The machine, which can be of great help to marginal farmers, orchid owners, municipal committees and other organisations, will help reduce pollution, space requirement and manpower. Lt-Gen DDS Sandhu, Vice-Chancellor, Kurukshetra University, has congratulated Professor Sharma and Yadav for...

In 2-3 years after implementation, money generation was seen Melaneelithanallur village in Tirunelveli district is bone dry most of the year. Lack of water for crops over the years turned the soil into dry wastelands, considered unfit for use. “Until a few years ago, almost all the farmers in the region wallowed in debt and poverty. Many households lacked even proper metal utensils for cooking as the inhabitants used to pawn...

Famously known as the seed crusader' of UP, Prakash Singh Raghuvanshi has developed over 100 species of indigenous seeds of wheat, paddy and other edible items that are compatible to the country's weather. While talking about his mission of conventional seed conservation, at a meeting in Sambalpur on Sunday he said, "Through my 15 years experience I have developed several species of indigenous seeds that are giving high yielding in...