Around 35 farmers cultivating paddy over 250 acres in Udumalpet block are showing the way to cut down on expenditure, and increase net income by using technology.
They have come together to hire latest imported gadgets that could transplant paddy seedlings raised in nurseries to nearly 10 acres on the main farm in a single day.
“It is indeed a commendable thing that the farmers did not turn their back to emerging techniques in the mechanisation of farm activities. The earlier models of the machines used for the paddy transplantation in the region have been able to re-plant seedlings only up to three acres on a given day,” said Joint Director of Agriculture A. Mahendran.
Even at the initial stages of transplantation itself, the farmers are able to feel the benefits of using the advanced devices.
“Labour cost has come down significantly when compared to both the manual transplantation and also the re-planting done using earlier models of mechanised transplanters,” said L. Balasubramanian
Use of these latest machines are helping the farmers reduce the quantity of seeds since peculiar spacing pattern was adopted.
“Only about 15 kg of seeds are needed here for a hectare. Around 50 kg is required if the saplings are planted in a disarranged way when adopting the traditional manual transplanting,” said farmers and agriculture department officials.
Mr. Mahendran said the agriculture department would be giving the farmers an incentive at the rate of Rs. 3,000 a hectare as back-ended subsidy for taking up advanced farming methods.
Farmers will get a subsidy of Rs. 3,000 a hectare as incentive
Source : The Hindu
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