IIT Madras develops cheap agricultural transportation system

The transportation system, which is a lightweight monorail type, can economically carry agricultural produce from the fields to collection points near the farmlands. 

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras have developed an efficient and cost-effective agricultural transportation system in partnership with Pothu Vivasayeegal Sangam, a non-governmental organisation for farmers.  

The transportation system, which is a lightweight monorail type, can economically carry agricultural produce from the fields to collection points near the farmlands. An IIT Madras team has successfully tested the prototype for this cableway system at a farm in Nanjai Thottakurichi village of Karur district in Tamil Nadu.  

Transportation system can be easily installed on Indian farms  

The transportation system is developed by Professor Shankar Krishnapillai, from department of mechanical engineering, IIT Madras. “Indian farmers will face severe shortage of labour in the coming years, especially in post-harvest operations. The simple agricultural transportation system is made in local workshops, from locally available components, based on the lightweight overhead rail concept. It can be easily installed on Indian farms and reduce labour requirements in transporting the produce. The system has also minimal environmental disturbance as it passes over the ground,” Krishnapillai said.  

2 people required to operate system  

The Madras team conducted continuous trials covering a distance of about 200 metres for several months from July 2020 with five loaded trolleys. Two people were required to operate the system, one at either end of the transportation system. The trials showed that they were able to successfully transport agricultural loads in a consistent and reliable manner. The components of the cableway can be manufactured at local workshops, making this system fully indigenous. 
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