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Old 23rd May 2012, 10:08   #1
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Indian farmer modifies a Bullet, turns it into farm equipment

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This farmer, 44, is ready to bring a new revolution to India in agriculture. had no money but was rich in ideas. He developed the "Santi" (which means plough in Gujrati), a RE Bullet modified into a fully capable farm ploughing equipment, in 1994. A drought had hit the year before, and had left the family bankrupt. As a result, it was forced to sell the pair of bullocks it owned.

He then contemplated something more efficient as well as cost effective, and the result is here for all to see.

Some comparisons:

One Bullet Santi
  • Cost of assembling: 40000/-
  • Ploughs about 2 acres with one litre of diesel
  • No dedicated person needed to take care
  • Can plough, sow 15 acres in 8 hours
  • Attachments light, easy to handle
Source & Full Article Here

Last edited by GTO : 23rd May 2012 at 18:53. Reason: Keeping fair usage practices in mind, it is best to include an excerpt + link to full article
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Old 23rd May 2012, 10:37   #2
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Re: Indian farmer modifies a Bullet, turns it into farm equipment

Please check National Innovation Foundation, which encourages such innovations from the small towns and villages across India. Here's the link for the Santi, which was featured on the NIF site:
Bullet Driven Santi | National Innovation Foundation
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Old 23rd May 2012, 10:58   #3
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Re: Indian farmer modifies a Bullet, turns it into farm equipment

Given that labour is one of the primary problems of farmers, this will be a blessing for millions who cannot afford a tractor. Take a bow!
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Old 23rd May 2012, 11:05   #4
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Re: Indian farmer modifies a Bullet, turns it into farm equipment

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Originally Posted by kvish View Post
Given that labour is one of the primary problems of farmers, this will be a blessing for millions who cannot afford a tractor. Take a bow!
Very true. In fact, I am sure such an initiative will prevent farmers from giving up their profession and migrating to cities in search of better prospects, which, in most cases, results in only more despair. If harnessed properly, this innovation has a lot of potential to boost the resources of agriculture, which is one of the strongest resources that our country has..
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Old 23rd May 2012, 11:15   #5
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Re: Indian farmer modifies a Bullet, turns it into farm equipment

Saw it in the paper but couldn't couldn't read it (was just scanning through).

Excellent innovation! All credit to the inventor. Maybe Royal Enfield should look at it deeply to create a small tractor market after due credit (monetary and otherwise) to the inventor.

Makes me wonder what good I have done as a software pro.
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Old 23rd May 2012, 11:18   #6
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Re: Indian farmer modifies a Bullet, turns it into farm equipment

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Originally Posted by asr245 View Post
...Makes me wonder what good I have done as a software pro.
You speak my mind. When I read of such things done in remote villages of the country (eg. couple of days back there was news of a village in Gujrat that boasts of WiFi and Optical Fibre Broadband), I really start wondering whether I have done something worthwhile that can do some good to general public, instead of just following orders of superiors with hours and hours of meaningless coding routines.!!
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Old 23rd May 2012, 11:31   #7
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Re: Indian farmer modifies a Bullet, turns it into farm equipment

Kudos, and respects! Though the contents of the pros and cons can be debated! (500 Rs/day for a bullock! and ploughing isn't the only thing they are used for). Anyway, the article proves one thing I've always held - anything above 150cc is overpowered as a two wheeler (no need to mention Harley's and ilk).
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Old 23rd May 2012, 11:43   #8
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Re: Indian farmer modifies a Bullet, turns it into farm equipment

15 acres in 8 hours? Thats hard to believe.

Kudos to the achievement, however
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Old 23rd May 2012, 11:50   #9
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Re: Indian farmer modifies a Bullet, turns it into farm equipment

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Originally Posted by swarnava.m View Post
[*]Ploughs about 2 acres with one litre of diesel
Is it diesel or petrol? I thought RE Bullet's have a petrol engine!
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Old 23rd May 2012, 12:22   #10
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Re: Indian farmer modifies a Bullet, turns it into farm equipment

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Originally Posted by ajman28 View Post
Is it diesel or petrol? I thought RE Bullet's have a petrol engine!
Check the link posted by NoMind in post #2. It says that the engine has been converted to a 5.5 HP diesel mill.
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Old 23rd May 2012, 12:38   #11
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Re: Indian farmer modifies a Bullet, turns it into farm equipment

Nice and cheaper way of farming compared to buying a tractor and maintaining bullocks (although in villages, people don't buy fodder).

Don't get me wrong but I don't see any big ingenuity in this. Its still a power equipment, only smaller. The equipment used to till land are smaller (from what is shown in the picture) than what you would use even with bullocks. (5.5 horse power > 2 bullock power ? ) Depends on application.

Good practical thinking.
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Old 23rd May 2012, 12:43   #12
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Re: Indian farmer modifies a Bullet, turns it into farm equipment

Guess he modified what they usually call in Gujrat a "Chatta".Very common sight in Rajkot etc.Basically Enfield Chassis fitted with diesel engines.Torque monsters!! Good thinking on the part of the inventor though.
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Old 23rd May 2012, 12:52   #13
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Re: Indian farmer modifies a Bullet, turns it into farm equipment

Here the link to the above mentioned article in today's Times of India, Delhi edition.
Article Window
Hope this helps.

Cheers!
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Old 6th June 2012, 23:55   #14
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Re: Indian farmer modifies a Bullet, turns it into farm equipment

WOW!!.2 Acres with one liter of diesel??? and 15 acres in 8 hrs?? I guess that speaks of high machine efficiency. This man deserves something special. Are the automotive giants listening? I guess they should pluck out a leaf from his booklet on operation efficiency.
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Old 7th June 2012, 12:29   #15
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I hope people replying to this thread have some basic idea about farming.
I belong to a farmers family, except my dad and me , every one we know of is a farmer. We own two tractors, MF and ford (35/45 bhp). Both tractors have massive reduction in there gearboxes and 9-10k nm is available on those massive tractor wheels.
But to be honest usually MF being lighter and little shorter on Hp is found wanting as far as actual tilting of land is concerned. As the shovels dig deeper the tractor gets slower and slower. Is simply does not have enough power to go on with fast ploughing.
So I do not have any idea how 6bhp/30nm equipment would do the job faster. It might give excellent FE , but it would not be ploughing at all because shovels would not go deep , they would barely scratch the surface. It would rather be called waste of time, non usable ploughing.
So you are basically riding around in a farm, one can cover as many acres as he like but it isn't going to be well tilted land.
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