Ragi machine a boon to farmers

Farmer-friendly

These traditional methods though did not ensure fool-proof chaff-free grains, they however, seem to be so popular that farmers do not want to abandon them for better options.

Generally, the farmers spread corns on the roads so that the moment of vehicles helped the grains clear from the chaff very easily. Or else, the farmers billow the grains at a height so that the grains are cleared from the chaff during the process of hitting the ground. The cattle are made to run over the grains thereby clearing the grains from the chaff.

These methods are, however, accompanied with certain drawbacks and dangers. Some of the educated farmers who have realised this, have decided to opt for other means. Some of the educated and enlightened farmers of Panasamakanahalli village have resorted to the use of machines to get their ragi grains cleared of chaffs.

They feel that the use of machines to clean the grains is better when compared to other the options. These days, not all the farmers do not own enough numbers of cattle, so that can use them for cleaning the grains. While the billowing method does not promise total cleansing of the grains, most of the farmers opt for spreading of grains on the roads, so that the grains are cleaned through cheaper and faster means.

Running over by vehicles

But in the process, they do not realise that while spreading the grains on the roads, they are often face the risk of being run over by the vehicles. Even the grains cleared of chaffs do not assure of cleanliness and purity, since there are every chances of mud, soil and other unwanted items getting mixed with the grains, which is quite dangerous.

The ragi machines seem to be the appropriate answer to all the woes of the farmers.

Srinivaspur taluk necessarily boasts of a large number ragi growers. In order to solve their perennial problem of cleaning the ragi grains, the ragi machine was invented. A large number of farmers today get their grains cleaned through a more faster and cleaner method. The grains cleaned from the machines are any day better from the grains cleaned in unhygienic conditions, according to farmer R Manjunath Reddy.

Cleaning a bag of ragi costs Rs 70. The machine runs with the help of a tractor engine.

Cattle feed

Also, since the chaff got collected at one place, this could be used to feed the cattle. Sharing her experiences, farm woman Venkatamma said, the no-hassle ragi machine has come as a boon to the farmers of Panasamakanahalli village. We are using the chaff as feed for rearing country chicken. Thus, agriculture can definitely go hand-in-hand with dairy farming and animal husbandry, she added.

All-in-all, the ragi machine, though might sound expensive, is still the best option taking into consideration the health aspects involved in it. But there are few machines available in the Panasamakanahalli village. Hence, there is a long queue to get the grains cleaned. And during the harvesting season, it is common to the queue growing even longer.