Jorhat, Aug. 16: Master innovator from Assam Uddhab Bharali today said he had been working on a project to produce noodles from bhim kol (a local variety of plantain), besides working jointly with the Assam Agricultural University (AAU) in devising an instrument to transplant paddy saplings.

Bharali said this while delivering a lecture as the guest speaker on the 68th foundation day of the College of Agriculture of the AAU.

He designed and prototyped an entire range of mechanical innovations since his first invention in 1987. He has invented around 121 engineering devices, most of which are meant for the agriculture sector and also for differently-abled people.

Bharali, who has 39 patents to his name, has been bestowed with several awards, and of late, he has been working jointly with the AAU and Tea Research Association to design tools and machinery for the benefit of farmers and tea industry workers.

The innovator said noodles were very popular among the younger generation, not only in India but across the globe.

He added that bhim kol, which was usually fed to cattle and babies after de-seeding, had a lot of nutritional value, even more than the noodles made of dough.

The serial innovator, an engineering dropout from North Lakhimpur district of Assam, however, did not divulge the details of the project for producing noodles out of bhim kol.

He said the project would contribute to the state's agronomy, as there would be demand for the plant and people could take up plantation on a large scale.

A few years ago, two entrepreneurs from the state started manufacturing baby food out of the raw material of bhim kol. Indukalpa Bharali started the production of Bhimvita on Majuli island 10 years ago. Inspired by Bharali, another entrepreneur, Pradip Borah, began manufacturing Bhim Shakti, a similar product, a year ago.

Uddhab Bharali said his rural background invoked his commitment towards the agriculture sector. Talking about his project in devising "paddy transplanter" jointly with the AAU, he said the device was in the final stage and had been used for field trials.

He added that the device would help farmers plant seedlings easily while standing. Following the traditional method, one has to bend down to plant seedlings. Bharali added that it had been observed that women farmers tend to suffer from waist and backache after transplanting seedlings for long hours.

Bharali, who termed innovation was "nothing but application of common sense for benefit of common people", said he gave Rs 69,000 per month to underprivileged students as he himself had to pass through very difficult times in life.