VIJAYAWADA: A team of six students from Zilla Parishad High School, Penamaluru, has amazed their parents and the local farming community with their innovative creation, the Paddy Guardian (Paddy Dryer).
Developed in the school’s Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL), this invention demonstrates the practical application of classroom knowledge to solve real-world problems.
The brainchild, Rachapalli Pavani, a student at the school, the Paddy Guardian addressed the challenges faced by farmers, particularly the devastating impact of heavy rains on paddy crops.
Supported by Niti Aayog and the Atal Innovation Mission, the ATL programme aims to foster scientific temperament among students by providing a space equipped with modern tools, enabling them to connect theoretical knowledge with hands-on experimentation.
One parent, M Sivaiah said, “Seeing our children create something so useful for the farming community and innovative is truly amazing.”
With guidance from their teachers and technical support from Vigyan Ashram, the students designed a paddy dryer capable of converting wet paddy into dry paddy at specific temperatures.
Speaking to TNIE, Dr B Srinivas Rao, State Project Director, said, “The innovation demonstrated by the students are truly inspiring. The Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) showcases the power of hands-on learning, and we are committed to expanding this initiative to foster creativity and problem-solving skills among young minds across the state.”
He said 700 ATLs were allocated to the State, with 565 designated for government schools, and measures have been taken to ensure 75% of these centres are functional and Introduced first of its kind a Hub and Spoke model in ATLs, he said. Dassault Systems developed student ideas into prototypes with financial support of Rs 21,500 per project. Four projects from four hubs were selected for financial aid including Paddy Guardian.
Sheshagiri Madhusudhan Rao, education specialist for Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka of United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) said, “The collaboration between UNICEF and the State government with the technical support of Vigyan Ashram is empowering students to become innovators and change-makers in their communities. The success of the Paddy Dryer project is a shining example of what can be achieved when students are provided with the right resources and support, he told TNIE.
“Since the ATL programme started, even the so-called backbenchers have become very proactive in class and are enthusiastically participating in various activities,” said headmistress Y Durga Bhavani.
Rachapalli Pavani, Chintha Loka Sai Nandini, Nadipineni Teja Sri, Mohammed Razak, Gunti Tarun Sai Ram, and Nandam Manoj Sai are the team members who visited paddy fields and discussed the problems farmers face before developing this invention by using a humidity sensor, a buzzer, a relay, Arduino, four hair dryers and LCD.
Ch Nandini, a Class X student and team member, shared her excitement to TNIE “The paddy dryer is versatile, secure, and budget-friendly, making it accessible to farmers and households alike. It benefits various sectors for food storage. The ATL has transformed our learning, allowing us to create, experiment, and solve real problems.”
Teja Sri, another Class X students and a team member, said, “This isn’t just a gadget; it’s an eco-friendly machine addressing a critical rural issue.”