5 Agri-Equipments by ICAR save time, labour and cost
Many agricultural tools are available from sowing seeds to fertilizing and weeding
The use of modern machines and Agri-Equipments is very important for saving time, labour and money in agricultural work. This allows the work to be done more efficiently in less time, thereby reducing the cost of the farmers. From planting seeds to fertilizing and weeding, there are many agri-equipments and agricultural tools available. In this article, we will tell you about some special Agri-Equipments suggested by ICAR, which are making farming tasks easier for the farmers.
1. Self-propelled Power Weeder
This Agri-Equipments is useful for weeding and seed preparation in row crops, horticulture and vegetable crops. It consists of a power tiller chassis, power transmission system, front wheels, a frame and a rotary tiller and a 4.1 kW diesel engine.
Power from the engine is transmitted to the rotary with the help of belts and chains and through a gear train to the ground wheels. Two skids are provided on both sides of the power tiller to adjust the depth. A power cut-off device is also provided to connect or shut off power to the rotary system. Its cost is around 40 lakh rupees. This machine saves up to 90% time as compared to manual weeding by hoe. Also saves up to 30% weeding cost.
2. Power Weeder for Low Land Rice
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in collaboration with M/s Premier Power Equipment & Products Pvt. Ltd. has developed a two row power weeder. It is suitable for periodic weeding in row sown paddy and SRI sown paddy in all types of soil. It is an automatic, small and light power weeder. Its weight is 17 kg. It is equipped with 1.30 kW engine, float and rotary cutting blade. There are four high speed rotating blades (300 rpm) on either side, which weed two rows at a time. Being small and light, it can move quickly between crop rows. The average speed of operation of power weeder is about 30 m/min.
3. Tractor Mounted 3-Row Rotary Weeder
This 3-row rotary weeder is operated with a tractor attachment. This Tractor Mounted 3-Row Rotary Weeder is designed and developed by Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. It consists of a main frame, gearbox, three rotary weeding blade assemblies, a set of 40 mm square shafts, sprockets and chains to supply power from the gearbox to the rotary assembly. It allows row-to-row distance to be adjusted from 675 to 1165 mm. The weeding efficiency of the machine is 83-87%. It works at the rate of 0.24 hectare / hour. The cost of this machine is around 60 thousand rupees.
4. Fertilizer Band Placement Cum Earthing Up Machine
The tractor operated fertilizer band placement cum earthing up machine has been developed by Pantnagar University, Uttarakhand. This machine is suitable for fertilizing, tilling and weeding crops like maize, sugarcane, potato etc. when row to row distance is more than 0.50 m. The rate of urea/manure application per hectare is between 60 to 250 kg. It can work with a capacity of 0.56 hectares per hour. The cost of the machine is around 50 thousand rupees. This method saves a lot of fertilizer, time and labor as compared to the traditional method.
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 5. Tractor Operated Fertilizer Dibbler for Ratoon Sugarcane
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Coimbatore has developed a tractor operated fertilizer dibbler for application of manure. The cost of this agri-equipments is around 45 thousand rupees and the operating capacity is 0.2 hectare / hour. Using this equipment saves money up to 60 percent as compared to the traditional method. The operating cost per hectare is Rs.1550.Â