What started as a small experiment by a 14-year-old girl caught the attention of T Works, an electronic hardware start-up incubator, which resulted in the development of a machine that could produce 500 biodegradable jars for use. in nurseries.

A Srija from Gadwal was very upset about the use of black plastic bags during her school’s planting campaign last year.

She went home, took some peanut shells and made a paste with them to make a pot to keep the saplings.

His work, shown in some exhibitions, caught the attention of the Telangana State Innovation Council (TSIC), which in turn referred him to T Works.

“The main task that was given to us was to build a machine, the best mixture and the best temperature at which it had to be fired in the mold.

“We helped her in structured experiments to find the best combination,” said Anand Rajagopalan, director (operations) of T Works. Activity area.

“We focused on three mixes and three temperatures. We have built a robust machine that does not require any maintenance.

In addition, the mold mounted in the machine (named Biopress 4T) can produce thousands of pots. And mussels can come in different forms, ”he said.

Open source technology

Not only will the biopot help civic organizations get rid of plastic bags in nurseries, but it will nourish young trees as the mixture contains fertilizing peanut shells, tamarind seed powder and other proprietary materials developed. by Srija.

Now that a machine is ready to make the pots, T Works has decided not to patent the technology.

“We’re going to make it open source for developers,” he said.

T Works, however, will help the girl apply for a patent on the proprietary blend.

“We worked closely with Srija and her mentor Augustine to design and build a machine capable of producing large numbers of biopots. Their contribution was essential in designing a machine that could be used in a village, for example by self-help groups, ”said Sujai Karampuri, general manager of T Works.

Mussels, developed by Srija, could find a place in the Telangana government’s mass greenery program – Telangana ku Haritaharam.

“We will aim to train communities of self-help groups for large-scale production of pots,” said Shanta Thoutam, head of innovation for the Telangana government.