Wednesday Nov 13, 2024
Wednesday Nov 13, 2024
Thursday, 12 September 2013 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Partnering with the Gami Diriya program (Community Development and Livelihood Improvement Project – Phase II) of the Ministry of Economic Development, company extension officers demonstrated the unique features of the machine to farmers in the North Central and Southern Provinces.
Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Managing Director M.R. Zaheed said: “Representatives from Kubota, Japan along with a team from Hayleys Agriculture Extension Services and Research and Development Units tested the machine extensively in Sri Lankan field conditions with the first trials having been carried out by during 2012 Yala and Maha seasons. Having experienced the benefits of the Kubota mechanised rice transplanter first-hand, we decided to make it available to the local farming community.”
The machine helps farmers cut down on labour costs while increasing yields at the same time as a two person team working with a Kubota rice transplanter model NSP-4W would be able to transplant one hectare in a day. Farmers would just have to cut the nursery plants into rectangular blocks and insert them into the groves in the machine which then transplants the rice plants in equally spaced rows.
The gap between the rows enables mechanical weeding and also allows favourable wind movement which could lead to a reduction in pest infestation. Local Agriculture experts who have seen the Kubota rice transplanter in operation noted that the process of mechanised transplanting, particularly the Japanese technology that is on offer, may also save on agrochemicals.
Islandwide trials including those carried out at the Rice Research Institute at Bathalagoda and Samanthurai proved that yield could be increased by as much as 10 - 20% due to higher tillering per hill (20-25) when compared to the traditional broadcasting method. Elaborating on the benefits of mechanised rice transplanting, Zaheed added: “Our demonstrations showed farmers how proper nursery management and mechanised transplanting would bring about as much as a 50% saving on seed paddy when compared to the broadcasting method.
This would prove to be a shot in the arm for our farmers who are currently compelled to ‘grow’ their own seed paddy as the formal seed paddy sector is only able to supply 30% of the seed paddy requirement, often resulting in low quality seeds and reduced yields. Combined with the savings from the reduced weedicide usage and the increased yields, mechanised rice transplanting would help make farming more appealing, commercially. Working closely with the Government, we look forward to taking the benefits of this technology to the local farming community.”
Hayleys Agriculture has pioneered many aspects of farm mechanisation, upgraded designs, introduced new products and brought in professionalism to farming. Apart from the Kubota rice transplanter, Hayleys Agriculture also markets Hayspray stainless steel knapsack sprayer, combine threshers, two-wheel and four-wheel tractors, combine harvesters etc. and has been in the forefront of agricultural mechanisation in Sri Lanka for a long time.
