Grade 10 Student From Karnataka Invents Farmer-Friendly Auto Crop Sprayer

Neha Bhat, a student of class 10 from Puttur in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, has invented a pesticide sprayer for betel nut farmers. The multi-purpose eco-friendly and battery-operated automatic spraying machine could be used for spraying pesticide, weedicide or insecticide in the plantations. 

Neha is also a 3rd prize winner at the CSIR Innovation Award for School Children 2020. Her interest in helping the betel nut farmers arose while the Shell NXplorers programme participation. 

Neha says, “This could lead to wastage of the fungicide and the biggest challenge is that pressure has to be applied manually and variation in the pressure applied could have an impact on the output.” On completion of her prototype, she reached out to betel nut farmers and asked them to use it and provide feedback. The farmers found it cost and labours effective and easy to carry for spraying. 

While talking about her invention which is currently being fine-tuned at Laghu Udyog Bharati – Karnataka chapter, Neha explained the automatic sprayer’s working. “It is not only three times efficient than the traditional gator pump it makes spraying less labour intensive and is also fitted with a liquid indicator that will beep when the fungicide quantity is about to get exhausted. The inlet of the device is connected to a 200-litre fungicide barrel. The kit is mounted on a wheeled cart that makes transportation easy,” she told TOI.

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Neha studies in Vivekananda English Medium School where she initially presented her project in 2019 July Agri-Tinkering Fair. She was helped in her project by Atal Tinkering Lab experts and guided by her grandfather who is an agriculturist as well.