Inventors of a motorcycle driven ploughing machine, multi-purpose and multi-fuel pump, pulley with a locking mechanism and arecanut peeler are among those who will be honoured tomorrow by the Ahmedabad-based National Innovation Foundation (NIF).

NIF was set up in March 2000, by the department of science and technology as an autonomous society to scout for and encourage the genius of grassroots level technological innovators. The awards will be presented at a two-day congregation of the innovators beginning at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), here, tomorrow.

The motorcycle-based ploughing machine, developed by one Mansukhbhai Jagani of Gujarat, is a versatile 5.5 HP device to perform various farm operations. It is expected to suit, especially, those small farmers who can neither keep a pair of bullocks because of fodder shortage nor afford to buy a tractor. A motorcycle can be converted into ploughing contraption in 35 to 40 minutes and can again be used as a vehicle after finishing the farm operations.

One Ram Naresh Yadav of Uttar Pradesh is to be honoured for developing a multi-purpose and multi-fuel pump that can be operated by human labour, bullock, diesel or electric power. The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, has already tested its performance and found it to be highly efficient.

The new pulley developed by Amruthbhai from Pikhor village in Junagarh district of Gujarat is a modified version of the conventional pulley with a locking mechanism that prevents a bucket with water from sliding back into the well when left midway. This would allow women, who generally fetch water from traditional wells in rural areas, to gasp for the breath while pulling a water-filled bucket out of the well.

A West Bengal innovator, Usha Shankar Bhattacharya, has won prize for developing an energy saver kerosene stove.

Many of these inventors will talk about their products at the IARI meet.