Rajendra Lohar from Pachvara village in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra has made a low-cost mini tiller and five more farming equipment which are proving to be a boon for the farmers.You will be surprised to know that Rajendra has not taken any formal degree in mechanical nor did he go through any training. He does not even have a farming background, which would help him to design these machines.Rajendra is a mechanic and had to drop out of school after class 10 due to financial constraints. His father was a welder in an oil mill in Jalgaon, and his meagre salary was not enough to feed a family of seven. Hence, Rajendra – being the eldest son – had to leave his education and work in a garage.
Rajendra worked in this garage for 18 years and learnt every aspect of mechanics from his master. He took on and fulfilled the responsibility of marrying his three sisters and helping his brother, Rajendra, started his own garage in Jalgaon.It was a small city and soon Rajendra was well known for his punctuality and perfection in his work. During this time, Rajendra also developed a keen interest in designing new machines.
He first developed a car with an auto-rickshaw engine and was praised by the entire district. After this, one day in 2014 his farmer friend, Motilal Patil visited him and suggested him to make some low-cost machines which will be helpful for the farmers.While the market rate of a tiller costs more than a lakh and a half, Rajendra’s mini tiller, made with a scooter engine and waste material from his garage – costs just Rs. 18000. News spread about Rajendra’s invention and more and more farmers started visiting him. Marginal farmers started giving him suggestions for more machines and he followed their instructions.
So far Rajendra has invented five low-cost machines useful for the marginal farmers. In the past 2-3 years, he has spent almost Rs 1.5 to 2 lakh to invent these machines. But he feels overwhelmed when farmers come and help him financially to carry on with his experiments.
“The farmers trust me now. People come from far away villages too. This is such an honour and satisfaction that money cannot buy. Though I earn less money here, I have earned much more respect. See! You are calling me from so far. This makes me feel worthy even if I can’t get educated or get a good position in my life,” says this 56-year-old inventor.