Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, convened a significant meeting on August 08, 2024, bringing together over 100 stakeholders, including farmers, manufacturers, agriculture department officers, and PAU experts, to discuss the performance, issues, and improvements needed for the ‘Surface Seeder’ technology.
The meeting provided a comprehensive platform to evaluate the current status of the Surface Seeder, a low-cost agricultural innovation designed to enhance wheat cultivation. Discussions focused on its performance, operational challenges, and potential improvements.
In his remarks, PAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal, lauded the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders in advancing this technology to benefit farmers. He emphasized the importance of manufacturing machines in strict adherence to PAU’s specifications, offering technical support from the university as needed. Dr. Gosal shared his experiences from visiting multiple districts to assess the wheat crop and engage with farmers, noting that those who adopted the Surface Seeder were generally satisfied with its performance. He highlighted the university’s initiative in conducting field visits for senior government officials to demonstrate the effectiveness of the technology.
Dr. M.S. Bhullar, Director of Extension Education at PAU, announced that the university has already commenced training programs for trainers who will further instruct operators on the proper use of the Surface Seeder and other straw management machines.
The session featured an interactive discussion moderated by Dr. A.S. Dhatt, Director of Research at PAU, where farmers mostly praised the technology but also pointed out issues related to machine design deviations from PAU’s specifications and the need for better-trained operators.
Manufacturers expressed concerns about the limited time available for production and the low pricing of the machines, which led to compromises in material quality and design. They urged the government to set the machine’s price at approximately Rs. 1.20 lakh, inclusive of taxes and GPS installation, to ensure higher-quality production.
Addressing these concerns, Dr. Jaswant Singh, Director of Agriculture, acknowledged the time constraints but assured that efforts will be made to promote the technology among farmers. He also promised to propose a price increase to the ministry to ensure the availability of quality machines and stressed the necessity for manufacturers to adhere strictly to PAU’s specifications.
Earlier in the meeting, Dr. Jasvir Gill, Agronomist, presented data on the performance of surface-seeded wheat across 1203 acres at 228 locations throughout Punjab, excluding Pathankot, Ropar, and Mohali. The results indicated that the yield from surface-seeded wheat was comparable to that of conventionally sown wheat, with added benefits such as mulching.
The operational cost of the Surface Seeder was highlighted as just Rs. 400 per acre, with the added advantage of eliminating the need for the last irrigation typically required for paddy straw management.
The key points from the discussion were summarized by Dr. Gursahib Singh, ADR (Agricultural Engineering), while Er. Jagdish Singh, Joint Director (Engineering), provided an update on the adoption of paddy straw management technologies in the state. The meeting began with opening remarks from Dr. M.K. Narang, Head of the Department of Farm Machinery & Power Engineering, and concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. T.S. Dhillon, Additional Director of Extension Education.
Read more: https://www.pau.edu/index.php?_act=manageEvent&DO=viewEventDetail&dataE=datae&intID=9450
