SOLAR POWERED TRICYCLE FOR VENDING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
Distribution of tricycles to the selected beneficiaries under
Scheduled Caste Sub Plan of Government of India
ICAR - Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru
Sri. B. S. Yediyurappa, Honourable Chief Minister, Government of Karnataka distributed Arka Tricycle - Solar powered tricycle for vending fruits and vegetables to the selected 5 SC beneficiaries on 09th September ,2020 under Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) Scheme of Government of India. The function was attended by Sri. S. R. Vishwanath, MLA, Yelahanka Constituency and Special Secretary to Chief Minister, Government of Karnataka and Dr. M. R. Dinesh, Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru at CM’s Official Residence, Krishna, Bengaluru.
The Honourable Chief Minister addressed the function and mentioned that these type of vehicles are boon to the pushcart street vendors and these type of tricycles will be very much helpful for the farmers, who are interested in selling their own produce and congratulated Scientists and Team members of ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru who are engaged in development of such technologies.
The selected beneficiaries expressed heartfelt thanks to the ICAR-IIHR for developing the cart and SCSP Scheme of Govt. of India for making this eco-friendly technology to reach the target group for increasing the socio-economic status.
The selected beneficiary details are given below;
|
Sl. No. |
Name of the Beneficiary |
Beneficiary Address |
|
1 |
Mr. Manjunatha, B |
Ivarakandapura, Bengaluru |
|
2 |
Mr. Patalappa |
Addiganahalli, Bengaluru |
|
3 |
Mr. Manjunath |
Hesaraghatta, Bengaluru |
|
4 |
Mr. Ravi Nayak |
Singanayakanahalli, Bengaluru |
|
5 |
Mr. Surendra |
Dandinashivara, Tumakuru |
ABOUT ARKA TRICYCLE
Fruits and vegetable retail vending is mostly done by the push carts vendors to serve the customers at their doorstep. The fruits and vegetables are heaped with on top of the push cart and sold to the customers. The produces are exposed to the hot sun, dust and pollution while moving on the streets/ roads. This process gives way for the post harvest losses to the extent of 10-15 % every day. Post harvest losses can be reduced if the push carts are fitted with the provision to provide temperature and humidity management system through evaporative cooling in an enclosed chamber which also protects the produce from dust and pollution.
The drudgery in pushing the cart with load makes the vendor so tired and in turn lesser area is covered for sale. An energy free motorized system to move the cart would reduce the drudgery of the vendor and facilitate to cover more areas in lesser time.
Keeping in view of all these practical problems in push cart vending, a solar power operated tricycle cart for fresh fruits and vegetables vending has been developed by ICAR- Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru. It facilitates to keep the fruits and vegetables under hygienic and evaporatively cooled condition to keep them fresh for at least for 36 – 48 hours from the time of harvest. Solar powered driving system reduces the drudgery of the vendor and helps them to cover more area for selling fruits and vegetables.
- Designed and developed by ICAR-IIHR , Bengaluru
- Fully solar powered including motorized riding so that it reduces drudgery of the operator from pedalling and pushing
- Full charge can cover 50 kms of distance
- Capacity of 200 kg fruits and vegetables to be kept in 20 Nos of plastic crates for easy handling
- Evaporative cooling system for maintaining the freshness of the produce
- LED lights for night time selling and Digital balance for weighing the produce
- Public address system for commercial announcement and Electrical charging facility provided to be used during cloudy days
- Contactless automatic sanitizer dispenser customer’s safety
- Useful to all the push cart and street vendors to earn an additional income by reducing the post harvest losses.
- It will attract the customers for its convenient, clean and fresh produce purchase at their door steps
- The cost of the tricycle is around Rs.1.50 lakhs which is expected to be recovered in 2 years or so through saving post harvest losses of fruits and vegetables.
