Field Day on “Groundnut Digger Demonstration” conducted by RARS Palem on 20-02-2023

Groundnut value chain innovations to enhance farmer profitability and promote oil, food and confectionery industries in Telangana state” is being implemented at RARS, Palem in collaboration with ICRISAT, Patancheru. A field day has been conducted on “Enhancingincome of groundnut farmers by complete mechanization &to demonstrate the groundnut digger and shaker for groundnut harvesting” under the project at Allipur village, Mahabubnagar District. Dr. A. Masthanaiah, Scientist (Agril. Engineering), KVK, Madnapuram shared his experience with various farm implements. He also informed no farm implements are successful unless and until we learn to make necessary adjustments and acquire skills to operate them. Tractor company representatives from Mahindra and John Deere explained about the adjustments and care to be taken while loading heavy implements onto the tractor and measures to reduce risks while operating the groundnut digger. Smt. K. Mamatha, Scientist (Agronomy), RARS, Palem explained the importance and precautions to be taken while using a groundnut digger and shaker. Mechanization is the need of the day and farmers have to know the available machinery and learn skills to operate them. She also explained reduced dependence on labor during the short harvesting season The soil attached to the vines is shaken off in this process and vines are dropped in such a manner that pods get exposed to the sun for speedy dryingcompared to manually harvested. A demonstration ofthe groundnut digger and shaker was shown to the farmers of Allipurvillage and the operating mechanism ofthe groundnut harvester has been explained.