Ratanram observed the difficulties associated with commercial tractor-operated groundnut diggers and problems farmers face in getting laborers and also incurring losses due to insufficient digging and problems of wear and tear and maneuverability, especially at the corners. His small-scale industry manufactures agricultural machinery like blocks, seed drills, groundnut, digger, trolley, chaff cutter, tractor-operated bulldozers, etc. As an experienced manufacturer, he decided to modify the conventional groundnut digger with an additional vibration pad/ shock, absorbers spring, and two pivoted wheels in the rear of the groundnut digger. It reduces the load in the tractor’s 3-point leakages and increases maneuverability due to wheels, reduction in breakages due to the vibration pad, the approach of the machine in corners, and is easily driven on bunds and channels in the field. The modified innovation can fit any standard 540 rpm PTO, cover 4 ha in 8 hours, and consume only six lit diesel.
The innovation is a great help to farmers, and Ratanram managed to sell more than 400 machines in just five years. The customers who purchased the machine in 2011 are still using the machine, and the sale is mainly based on word of mouth, which confirms the acceptability of the machine among the farmers. Ratanram received an award at the 9th National grassroots innovation award 2017