Komale Ganapathi Bhat, a 51-year-old farmer from Bantwal, drew the attention of social media users and business leaders such as Anand Mahindra with his unique invention of a “Areca bike” to assist farmers in climbing tall areca palms.
He has since modified the farm equipment to assist farmers in climbing other trees as well. According to TOI, Bhat stated, “Since the release of the areca tree climber in 2019, I’ve been asked if the device can also be used to scale other types of trees. The device was recently modified and introduced with the assistance of Sherwin Maben of Maben’s Engineering Solutions in Shivamogga. It is suitable for climbing and descending coconut, mango, and jackfruit trees.”
The equipment developed to assist farmers in climbing trees with ease may be rotated 360 degrees in either direction. The seat is comfy, and with one litre of gasoline, one can climb between seventy and eighty coconut trees. It weighs approximately 45 kg and has a trolley, making it easy to transport. Although anyone may attach the equipment to a tree by themselves, assistance will be advantageous.
The equipment is designed to be operable even by ladies and little children “he said. “It takes around one minute to attach the bicycle to a tree and another minute to ascend. The device costs Rs 1.55 lakh, but with a subsidy of Rs 40,000, it costs only Rs 1.12 lakh. “I am only assisting the research and development process; Maben handles marketing,” Bhat explained.
The motorcycle has a two-stroke engine; hence, 40 ml of 2T oil must be put per litre of gasoline. “No concerns have been noted regarding the machine’s usability. Almost one thousand farmers from over the state had purchased the areca tree bike, and I have been utilising it “he stated.
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