PAU Organizes Field Demonstration on Mat Type Nursery Seeder

The Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) organized a successful field demonstration of the “Tractor Operated Mat Type Nursery Seeder” in the village of Sherpur Khurd, Jagraon. The event highlighted the potential benefits of this innovative machine for paddy cultivation, drawing significant attention from both agricultural professionals and local farmers.

Impressed by the machine's performance, Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, said that the machine can help in the timely sowing of mat-type paddy nursery, thereby, helping in the large-scale adoption of mechanical transplantation of paddy in the state. As it is an appropriate time for mechanization of labour-intensive paddy transplanting work, Mat Type Nursery Sowing Seeder can prove to be a fillip for it, he observed.

Dr. Ajmer Singh Dhatt, Director of Research at PAU, praised the machine's widespread adoption by farmers, indicating its growing acceptance and potential to transform paddy farming practices. He highlighted the role of such technologies in enhancing agricultural productivity and efficiency.

Dr. MS Bhullar, Director of Extension Education, announced plans to intensify efforts to promote the machine through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). He stressed the importance of extending the reach of this technology to farmers across the state to maximize its impact.

Dr. Manjeet Singh, Dean of the College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, remarked on the machine’s ability to address the mechanization gap in paddy cultivation. He pointed out that it significantly reduces labor requirements, especially under the harsh weather conditions often faced during the season.

Co-inventor of the machine, Dr. Gursahib Singh Manes, Additional Director of Research (Farm Mechanization), elaborated on its efficiency. He stated, "Two people can plant a mat-type nursery for two hectares in a single day using this machine." Dr. Manes also highlighted the machine's multifunctionality, which simplifies and speeds up the entire sowing process while being cost-effective. "The seeder sows 10-12 kg of seed for raising a nursery sufficient for one acre of paddy field. In a single day, it can cover 125-150 acres, resulting in a 70-75% cost saving and 80-85% labor saving compared to conventional methods," he added.

Dr. Anoop Kumar Dixit, Head of the Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, attended the demonstration where custom operator Avtar Singh showcased the machine. Dr. Dixit reported that Singh has already sown mat-type nurseries over 600 acres this kharif season and expects to continue for another 15 days. He explained that the technology was developed under the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on FIM at PAU’s Ludhiana center.

Dr. Aseem Verma and Er Arshdeep Singh, scientists from the department, provided detailed technical insights into the machine's operation and demonstrated the raised nursery.

The demonstration also featured a presentation by Randhir Singh Rajarh of M/s Rajarh Agricultural Works Mullanpur, who has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PAU for commercializing the machine. Rajarh reported the sale of 12 such machines across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.

Farmer Harnek Singh, an early adopter of the technology, shared his satisfaction with the machine's performance, noting a significant increase in his paddy yield since he started using it last year.

The event concluded with positive feedback from all attendees, including Dr. Jasvir Singh Gill, Scientist (Agronomy), and Er Rakesh Kumar, highlighting the potential of the Tractor Operated Mat Type Nursery Seeder to revolutionize paddy cultivation in the region.