A young Goan boy, who hails from a family based in Varca, has invented a tool that makes it easier for farmers across Goa to carry out the very essential task of cutting grass, far easier.
Thirty-one-year -year-old Jason Lino Almeida, an airline pilot by qualification but an inventor by passion, has created ‘Raze’, a unique tool that manually cuts grass and at the same time, solves a lot of problems faced by farmers.
These are the kind of problems his family noticed first-hand, when they used to supervise the work on their coconut plantations. His family has been doing this for generations and kept encountering some obstacle or the other. That’s when Jason believed that there must be a better way to address these issues as compared to the options available to them. He felt farmers in general needed a better option.
He thus began developing this tool as something his family could use or as a tool that could be given to a hired labourer.
Today, this patent-pending invention provides an easier and affordable alternative to the farmer and by doing so, it frees up the budget allowing the farmers to do more rounds of cleaning the fields.
At present, farmers either tend to rely on daily wage labourers who use the traditional koita/sickle; or hire skilled workers from outside Goa to use the tough grass sword; or depend on expensive automated machines, which are in high demand.
According to experts, Raze is considered to be around three times more efficient than traditional manual tools such as the koita/sickle and the grass sword in terms of area cleared.
While it can be used by any person or can be given to a hired labourer for the task, it can also be used to do the work that could be done by hiring an automated machine, albeit at a comparatively less expensive rate and an easier handling experience for the user as well.
“Raze is not here to replace the automated industry and I acknowledge that there does exist a need when automatic machines are needed but at the same time, people always deserve an option in order to ensure that we are never taken for granted,” said Jason.
“Automatic machine work involves hourly rates that are highly subject to inflation, as a result of multiple contributing factors, where the customer has to bear the burden of paying the inbuilt cost of labour, employer profit, fuel, higher maintenance and spares, initial buying cost, etc. Our profits have drastically reduced due to the higher rates we pay for cleaning, coconut plucking, increased wholesalers’ margins as well as lower yield,” Jason added.
With the natural increase in daily wage workers salaries, more efficient manual tools are necessary.
“There will always exist a need for our beloved koita/ sickle but it will be in conjunction with this new job specific tool,” Jason added.
Jason further pointed out that when it came to the grass sword, which has a straight shaft with a curved bottom end; it was quite the physically challenging and strenuous task for whoever was using it. Thus farmers would bring in skilled workers from outside the State to handle it. However, these craftsmen are not easily available anymore, as a majority of them have opted for other types of jobs and the grass sword is not as popular in Goa, as people prefer other options that are easier to use.
Against that backdrop, this Raze tool comes in handy. It has been ergonomically designed with considerations for reducing tiredness, impact loads on palms and wrists as well as ensuring that the lower back is at ease as compared to the traditional manual tools.
Experts have added that Raze has versatile use and that it can cut a variety of grass sizes with ease and in all types of areas.
Furthermore, the blade has been produced by an up-cycling process, which includes a process of sourcing high quality scrap metal also known as leaf spring that is commonly used in vehicle suspensions. This metal went through a forging and tempering process that was performed by some of Goa’s finest blacksmiths that have generational experience in the field.
Jason then elaborated on how he created the tool.
“Having researched the medieval scythe, I decided to make one myself and quickly realized why the scythe is not used in residential properties or even in farm lands to clear tougher grass. But what I did appreciate was that it was doing something correct and that was ensuring that the operator does not overload he’s lower back with constant lifting. Thus was born this unique swing pattern that tends towards care for one's back while at the same time was adjusted for rough terrain,” said Jason.
He continued with his research that took almost two years and saw multiple attempts before he could settle on the final product.
“Having failed around the 6th prototype, I decided to learn welding to develop the tool myself as it was no longer economical to employ others. I started reverse engineering the tool. For me, curves were the answer. A unique blade approach angle that was not connected to the handle via a straight shaft was the solution,” Jason explained.
A straight shaft creates a catch 22 situation between handling comfort, balance and the blade approach angle for cutting. The unique curved pattern of the Raze renders this predicament void. “We now have a tool that can literally be balanced on one finger in the cutting position. This unique quality of stability has a two-fold benefit, which is reducing the strain on wrists and overall fatigue. With the blade being horizontal for a larger period, we are also able to achieve an impressive cleaning area. Besides user safety concerns, the blade distance also ensures that you do not have to go into an unclean area physically before cutting,” said Jason
He subsequently got it tested at his field and other fields in Goa and has received great feedback from fellow Goans about its overall performance.
Going forward, Jason is excited about this ingenious product and is hoping he can make a huge difference in how farmers not only in Goa work but across the world approach the vital task of cutting grass.