Mahindra Introduces New Range of Rice Transplanters for Farmers in Telangana

Mahindra & Mahindra’s Farm Equipment Sector has launched a new range of rice transplanters for farmers in Telangana.

Mahindra PlantingMaster Paddy 4RO

Mahindra has introduced the ‘Mahindra PlantingMaster Paddy 4RO’, country’s first four-row ride-on type rice transplanter. The company had previously introduced the Mahindra MP461 walk-behind rice transplanter.

Mitsubishi Mahindra Agricultural Machinery of Japan has designed the rice transplanters that are customised to the specific needs of rice farmers in India.

At a cost of Rs 7.5 lakhs, Mahindra PlantingMaster Paddy 4RO - is best for growers with larger holdings & rental entrepreneurs and comes with sophisticated features like power steering, four-wheel drive technology, smile U-turn – 180 degree turning radius and added features for driver’s comfort and convenience. On the other hand, for smaller farms, the Company offers MP461 rice transplanter a walk behind model priced at Rs 2.8 lakhs.

Hemant Sikka, President of Farm Equipment Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd said, “Inspite of India being the 2nd largest rice producing country in the world, our rice cultivation continues to be under-mechanised. As mechanisation in land preparation & rice harvesting is widespread, less than 1% of rice transplanting is mechanised. Mechanisation of rice transplanting will allow timeliness & speed of operations, lower cost of cultivation and increased yields.”

He said, “With the introduction of our new portfolio of rice transplanters, with our partners Mitsubishi Mahindra Agricultural Machinery of Japan, we want to enable income growth for millions of rice farmers in India, including in Telangana, where farmers are also experiencing challenges related to labour shortage because of Covid-19”.

Senior Vice President, Farm Machinery, M&M, Kairas Vakharia said, “Farmers in Telangana who have tried this new technology in the last season, reported a growth in crop yields of 10% and more.”

Mahindra’s rice transplanters have adjustments to accommodate different paddy varieties, agronomic practices & field conditions. Growers can set the machine for plant-to-plant distance & planting depth.

What is a rice transplanter?

A rice transplanter is basically a machine that transplants paddy seedlings into paddy fields, ensuring uniform transplanting, which helps in increasing the yield. In addition, it is labour and time saving in comparison to manual transplanting. This latest technology can help growers overcome issues related to labour shortage especially during crisis.