Innovator: Natubhai R. Wadher
Address: At. Po. Erawada, Ta. Patadi, Dist. Surendranagar, Gujarat, Pincode: 382750
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ULU1FTrprc
Innovator Profile
Natubhai’s self-propelled, tractor-driven cotton boll picking machine is a game-changer for cotton farmers, automating the labor-intensive process of cotton harvesting. It does more than just pluck cotton bolls—it also separates and collects them for easy handling using vibrating discs to shake the plants, a conveyor tray to gather the fallen bolls, a suction pump to pull them into a storage unit, and a tractor PTO attachment for seamless operation without additional power input. Capable of harvesting 600 kg of cotton bolls per hour using just 1 liter of diesel, this machine drastically outperforms manual picking, where a worker collects only 100 kg per day.
Farmers can purchase it for ₹60,000-70,000 or rent/share it, making it an accessible solution for small and medium-sized farms. Despite having no formal technical training, Natubhai spent years perfecting the machine, investing ₹10-12 lakh of his own money and facing setbacks, including a failed prototype and family concerns. However, his determination kept him going, and with support from SRISTI, NIF, and GIAN, he refined the design using hydraulic gear systems. His breakthrough earned recognition, with IIT Kharagpur testing the machine and NIF/GIAN filing a patent in his name. Farmers see it as a “dream machine” and are willing to pay ₹2-2.5 lakh for a reliable version due to its significant cost savings. Awarded the Sardar Patel Krushi Award and SRISTI Samman, Natubhai’s innovation has the potential to revolutionize cotton farming in India. With further refinements, he believes the machine can even be adapted for Bt cotton varieties, making harvesting faster, easier, and more affordable for farmers nationwide.
GIAN is working as Nodal Institute under Start-up Gujarat scheme and supported this innovation for product development.
