Encouraging Labour Saving Devices/Machinery

Introduction

Agricultural tools, implements and machines help in increasing production, productivity and profitability by enabling timely farm operations and increasing the utilization efficiency or costly inputs (seed, chemical, fertilizers and irrigation water) through precise metering and placement, efficient energy utilization and reducing the cost of operations for higher profitability and economic sustainability. During the last 30 years, the demand for agricultural machinery has increased substantially and has reached a level of Rs. 30,000 crores annually (Rs. 20,000 crores for power units and crop production equipment and Rs. 10,000 crores for post harvest equipment.

Seed sowing device

A wide range of sowing and planting equipment are available as a result of R&D within the country and adaptation of designs available. For precise application of seeds and fertilizers, mechanically metered seed drill and seed-cum-fertilizer drill operated by tractor have been developed and are being manufactured to suit specific crops and regions for sowing/planting of wheat, paddy, coarse cereals, pulses, oilseeds, maize and potato. Seed drills and planters such as manual dibbler and rotary dibbler (CIAE), drill plough (CRIDA), CIAE seed cum fertilizer drill, tractor drawn seed drill with cup type seed metering mechanism for paddy and sorghum.

Transplanting and planting machinery

For paddy transplanting, manual power tillers and engine operated rice tansplanteres are developed. Tractor operated semi-automatic sugarcane planter and sugarcane set cutter-cum-planter are available now. For tillage and land development improved implements such as improved bakhar, bed former, puddler, disc harrow-cum-puddler, coco-puddler, hydro-tiller, and tool frame with attachment have been developed. In the recent past no-till drills, stirp-till drill, sugarcane cutter planters, mat type rice transplanters, manual as well as power operated machines have been well received.

Machinery for intercultural operations

Mechanical weeding and interculture are receiving attention currently. CIAE twin wheel hoe (low cost weeder), and PAU wheel how and their adaptations have become popular and their manufacture is on the increase. For wide row, some power weeders have been developed and introduced in the market, specially for cotton, sugarcane and maize. India manufactures a wide range of manual, auxiliary engine, tractor and power tiller operations as well as self propelled sprayers and dusters. Sprayers for tall crops, wide boom sprayers for field crops and high clearance self propelled sprayers have come to the market recently.

Harvesting and threshing equipments

Delayed harvesting during Kharif hampers seed bed preparation and sowing of rabi crop, reapers operated by engine, power tiller and tractor have been developed and introduced for harvesting wheat, paddy, soyabean ragi and mustard. An exclusive straw collector and binder or straw combine harvester has been developed to facilitate straw disposal.

Energy and labour saving machineries

Use of appropriate machines with proper application techniques saves labour charges and energy. Selection of fuel-efficient tractor as per the existing workload can save 10 to 20 per cent of fuel consumption. Similarly, proper selection and use of matching equipment can reduce fuel consumption of tractor by 30 to 50%. Simple care of maintaining the thermostat valve of radiator reduces the period of cold running of engine and saves fuel.

Use of energy efficient tractor operated rotavator in light soil can save 20 t o30% of energy as compared to cultivator and disc harrow. Improved equipment as wheel hand hoe has proved to be most energy efficient through saving of 72% of energy as compared to khurpa, a traditional hand tool used in squattig position.

Ag.
Technologies
(Crop
Husbandry)