‘Innovative grassroots technologies still to blend with mainstream markets at home,abroad’

* Most of these products are designed and made in the villages for use by the villagers. The inherent problem lies in exporting costs. NIF contacts exporters once the orders are placed and shipping charges are added to the price of the product. But most of the enquiries,and subsequently orders are placed from African countries,which increases the export costs,as these countries fall under Zone 5 of the export terminal,which costs more.

* Even when entrepreneurs from those countries are interested in mass-production of these products,the absence of a developed infrastructure makes it unviable.

* For developed countries like the US,the cost of mass-production is very high.

* Another problem is that mass-production becomes slightly risky because these innovations do not measure up to the US’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards.

* According to IIM-A Prof Anil K Gupta,vice-chairperson of NIF and president of SRISTI,though the testing and development to make these standards can be done,enough resources are not available.

* As far as patents are concerned,a total of 140 patents have been applied for in India and the US combined,of which 35 have been granted in India,while five of the seven have been granted in the US.

* “Only 200 of the 100,000 technologies have been patented. Our open source technology is far,far bigger than our patents and we want society to understand and appreciate that. We are creating public goods and somebody has to invest in the creation of public goods. Without it,we cannot last very long,” adds Prof Gupta.

Some products that have done well

* A “Manual Milking Machine” developed by Raghava Gowda — a school-teacher from South Canara in Karnataka — has produced turnovers of about Rs 75 lakh. Gowda combined pesticide spray pumps,fitted a vacuum container,vacuum level gauge,steel containers,a foot press and gears. He attached the contraption to a legged frame and came up with a milking machine costing less than Rs 7,000.

* A 250kg steel-based “Garlic-peeling machine” developed by M Nagarajan that can churn out 200 kgs of peeled garlic in an hour,has made turnovers of above Rs 1 crore. A patent has been filed,which has been supported by MVIF (Micro Venture Innovation Fund) for commercialisation.

* M J Joseph from Kerala has developed a “Coconut/Palm tree Climbing Device” using steel ropes and rubber pads,which cuts climbing time to a quarter of a manual climb (40 metres in 1-2 minutes). The patented device has been ordered by consumers from North and South America as well as coastal countries in South Asia.

* A “Tapioca/Cassava peeling machine” developed by M Dhanraj and K Mani that does not use water,and can churn out five tonnes of peeled tapioca in an hour. The device also has a facility to chop peeled tapioca. The patent for the device is pending.

* A “Herbal Growth Promoter” made from neem leaves,neem oil,jaggery and other herbs mixed with cow urine that triples up as an insecticide,pesticide and fertiliser was developed by farmer Ishwar Singh Kundu. To top it all,the bitter taste of the solution dissuades animals from eating the plants. The innovation has fetched a gross turnover of about Rs 50 lakh.