Innovative Monorail System to Aid Mizoram Farmers
Revolutionizing Agriculture in Mizoram
The approximately three-kilometer monorail is engineered to transport up to 500 kg of agricultural goods in a single trip, linking around 40 greenhouses in Aikawn.
Aizawl, Sept 23: For farmers working on the steep hills of Mizoram, transporting their harvest is as challenging as the cultivation process itself. To address this issue, the State Government is piloting a monorail system that offers an alternative to manual transportation or constructing roads on delicate landscapes.
This initiative, led by the Mizoram Science, Technology and Innovation Council (MISTIC), is being developed in the Mualpheng region and is anticipated to be operational in the coming weeks.
The monorail, spanning roughly three kilometers, is designed to carry agricultural produce weighing up to 500 kg per trip, connecting approximately 40 greenhouses in Aikawn and adjacent areas to a motorable road.
This solution is particularly advantageous for Mizoram, where extensive farmland is situated on steep inclines. MISTIC representatives noted that the system can handle slopes of about 45 degrees. It operates on a petrol engine and features a single machine with dual gears—one for forward movement and another for reversing.
The project is currently a pilot, with plans to replicate similar systems in other regions if the trial proves successful. The equipment, produced by Hindustan Agri Business Private Limited, is referred to as the 'Monorail for Agriculture.' MISTIC officials have indicated that this is the first agricultural monorail of its kind in India.
Mualpheng was selected for this project due to its significant vegetable farming, particularly tomatoes and chillies. Its closeness to Aizawl also facilitates easier oversight of the trial.
The introduction of the monorail is expected to lessen the physical effort required for crop transportation and reduce damage to the produce during transit.