Karnataka Farmer’s Brilliant Cow-Dung Solution Wins Top Prize in National Contest
Karnataka farmer Avinash Desai wins national contest with innovative cow-dung slurry dewatering machine.
Avinash Desai, an electronics and communication engineer turned farmer from Chachadi village in Belagavi, Karnataka, has clinched the grand prize in the second season of TAFE’s Massey Dynastar Contest 2025, outshining over 16,000 entries from across 26 states and 5 Union Territories. His groundbreaking invention, a mobile slurry dewatering machine powered by the Massey Ferguson DYNATRACK 241 tractor, addresses a critical challenge in dairy farming: efficient cow-dung composting. Desai was awarded a brand-new MF 254 DYNASMART 2WD tractor, valued at approximately ₹8.2 lakh, for his scalable and socially impactful solution.
Desai’s innovation tackles the inefficiencies of traditional cow-dung processing, a persistent issue for farmers managing large livestock. Operating a 100-acre farm in Saudatti taluk, where his family grows sugarcane, channa, and jowar while tending to 20 cattle, Desai identified the limitations of bio-digesters, which produce slurry with 70-80% water content that is cumbersome to handle. His mobile slurry dewatering machine, attached to a tractor and powered by its Power Take-Off (PTO), employs a screw press mechanism to separate nutrient-rich liquid from solid manure instantly. This dual-output solution allows farmers to irrigate fields with the liquid and use the solid as high-quality manure, reducing processing time from a year to just over a month compared to traditional methods.
The Massey Dynastar Contest, themed #SabseBadeAllrounderKiTalaash, seeks practical, tractor-powered innovations, and Desai’s entry stood out for its simplicity and impact. Reflecting on his journey, Desai noted that his participation in the 2023 contest inspired him to focus on accessible solutions after observing the success of a mobile milking device. His heritage as a descendant of Veerappa Nayaka, commandant of the 12th-century Ratta dynasty, adds a layer of historical significance to his modern-day triumph. With TAFE announcing a third season in 2026, Desai’s win highlights the potential of grassroots innovation to transform Indian agriculture, fostering sustainable practices and empowering rural communities.
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