Context:
Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited the ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering (CIAE) in Bhopal to review its research contributions and push for accelerated development and dissemination of farmer-centric technologies, particularly for small and marginal farmers.
Tractor-Operated Plastic Mulch Layer-Cum-Planter
ICAR-CIAE demonstrated a multi-functional, tractor-operated implement that integrates plastic mulch laying, drip lateral installation, and seed planting in one pass, reducing manual labour and operational cost drastically.
Technical Specifications:
- Mechanism:
- Hydraulic system powers an eccentric slider crank mechanism.
- Vacuum seed metering via aspirator blower connected to tractor PTO.
Benefits:
- Labour savings: 26 man-days/ha (89%)
- Cost savings: â‚ą6,600/ha (43%)
- Suitable for planting high-value crops like:
- Melon, cucumber, sweet corn, baby corn, green pea, okra, and beans.
Relevance
The Minister’s visit and the technology demonstration align with national goals of:
- Enhancing mechanization in smallholder farming
- Promoting climate-smart and resource-efficient agriculture
- Strengthening food security through technology diffusion
