TAWANG, Aug 10: A demonstration & distribution program for maize shellers, aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity, was organized at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in Tawang on August 10. The event, a collaborative effort between the Almora-based ICAR-Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan (ICAR-VPKAS) and KVK Tawang, was part of the NEH Programme under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
The programme witnessed the participation of 16 farmers from the villages of Bleting, Buri, Khinmey, and Kitpi.
SMS Agronomy at KVK Tawang, CK Singh, welcomed the farmers and emphasized the importance of maize in the local diet, while also underlining the need to boost maize productivity in the region.
Principal scientist at ICAR-VPKAS, Dr RK Khulbe, provided insights into the various initiatives undertaken by ICAR-VPKAS in collaboration with KVK Tawang. He highlighted the significance of adopting high-yielding, quality protein maize hybrids and the VL Maize Sheller, both developed by ICAR-VPKAS, to improve agricultural profitability in Tawang.
Senior scientist at ICAR-VPKAS, Dr Manoj Kumar, explained the advantages of the VL Maize Sheller, noting that the traditional method of manually shelling maize is both labour-intensive and time-consuming, posing potential long-term health risks, particularly for women, who are primarily engaged in this work. The VL Maize Sheller, specifically designed for hill farmers, significantly reduces the time and effort involved in maize shelling at a low cost.
During the event, the farmers were given a practical demonstration of the VL Maize Sheller, along with instructions on its proper usage. Six VL Maize Shellers were distributed to the participating farmers for community use.
The VL Maize Sheller, developed by ICAR-VPKAS Almora, is designed to be efficient and suitable for small and hill farmers. Weighing 54 kg, it is portable and can be operated with a 0.5 HP single-phase motor. The machine's threshing capacity is 200-250 kg per hour, with an efficiency rate of 95-98 percent. Additionally, the sheller causes minimal breakage of grains, and the unbroken cobwood can be used as firewood, making it a valuable tool for farmers in the region.