Farmers engaged in makhana cultivation are set to receive significant relief as a newly developed harvesting machine aims to eliminate the hazardous manual labour traditionally involved in the process. Experts at the National Research Centre on Makhana in Darbhanga have engineered this cutting-edge equipment, which is presently undergoing its final phase of testing with highly encouraging results.
The Traditional Hardship of Makhana Farming
While makhana cultivation remains a cornerstone of the Mithila region's identity, the harvesting stage has historically presented severe physical challenges. Farmers are routinely required to spend hours immersed in cold water and thick mud, manually extracting seeds known as Godiya. This grueling method exposes workers to constant hazards, including encounters with aquatic organisms and various skin diseases, prompting researchers at the research centre to formulate a specialized mechanical intervention.
Performance and Operational Capacity
Senior scientist Dr. Manoj Kumar noted that the manufacturing phase of the machine is complete and final trials are currently underway, yielding positive and encouraging outcomes. According to these evaluations, the machine is engineered to submerge underwater and efficiently extract makhana seeds within a short duration. Projections indicate that operating this equipment for seven to eight hours a day in a one-acre pond can yield approximately eight quintals of makhana seeds, thereby conserving considerable time and effort while potentially boosting overall agricultural output.
Commercial Production and Market Timeline
To facilitate large-scale manufacturing, a license has been granted to a private company based in Ambala for producing the equipment. Scientists anticipate that the machinery will officially hit the market for farmers by the month of August. Furthermore, the design of this innovative harvester was developed in active collaboration with experts from the Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology.
