Indigenously designed feed crusher launched

Sakraba (Phek) | December 9: Bringing cheers to the farming community of the state, a low cost indigenously designed feed crusher has been launched here this afternoon. This crusher, in local dialect called “Pedü” is used to crush raw materials for preparing feeds mainly for animals such as pigs, cows and chickens. It can also crush almost any type of feeds both dry or fresh and even the grains can be crushed into fine form. It can also crush leaves, stems and seasonable vegetables according to the requirements.

In an introductory note of this feed crusher, it said a large part of income for farmers in rural areas comes from rearing of domestic animals such as pig, cattle, chicken etc. By traditional methods a village household can only rear a few of these animals, primarily because of the labour intensive nature in collecting feeds, preparing the feeds as well as cooking as in the case of rearing pigs. Farmers will be able to rear more animals in economic way if the preparation of feeds which takes maximum time and energy, can be mechanised.

There are no known commercially available multi-feed crushers which are efficient and low cost. Many farmers have voiced this need, particularly Nerayi of Sakraba village, under Phek district, who approached the innovator Dr. Zavei Hiese, senior scientific officer, Science & Technology department, Nagaland. Thus, the innovator and his team of engineers and technicians have developed a feed crusher to meet such a requirement.

The word Pedü in local dialect is the name of a single cavity paddy dehusking device made from wood, from which the name of this machine is derived. This feed crusher, manufactured by Turbo Engineering, Kohima, was promoted by department of Science & Technology, Nagaland.

Earlier, launching the feed crusher machine, C.K. Nihekhu, NCS Secretary Science & Technology Department congratulated Dr. Zavei Hiese and all others involved in making this innovative technology possible.

Appreciating the launching of the new technology in the state that too made by a local, he stressed on the need to produce more and make it accessible to all villages. He also assured to work with the Confederation of Naga Farmers’ Union (CONFU) to take the rural farmers forward.

Innovator Dr. Zavei Hiese said although the department will not go for distribution of this crusher to the public, it will demonstrate this technology to ensure the rural farmers make the best use of it. He acknowledged all who had been involved in making this innovative technology possible and made special mention to 2 engineers Vileto Natso and Neiko Rume and technicians Neitho, Besukro, Nuta and Kahive.

Expressing happiness over the launching of feed crusher for rural farmers, Lanukaba, President CONFU, Nagaland, appealed the Science & Technology department to pay special attention towards the large scale production of agri and allied product, saying that scientific approach is required today to meet the competitive market.

Nerayi D. Vadeo, president CONFU Phek unit in his speech called for a collaborative effort between the farmers and scientists to uplift the farming community.

Interested persons can now place an order for this feed crusher through Nerayi D. Vadeo, president CONFU Phek District. Ph.no. 9402806232. The launching service was followed by technology demonstration of Biomas fired dryer and free distribution of sanitary napkins produced by the State’s Department of Science &Technology.