Background:
Sowing of jute is the most important farm operation for uniform plant population and fibre productivity. The socio-economic conditions of the jute farmers do not permit them to have seed drills. They are therefore bound to follow the traditional practice of broadcast sowing with higher seed rate (7-8 kg/ha) and face difficulty in intercultural operations and overall management of their crop. About 30% of total cost of production is consumed in the weeding and thinning operation due to involvement of human labour. As the yield rate is low, farmers derive marginal benefit out of their produce.
Technology Details:
• “JUTE SEEDER” is a light weight four-row manual seed sowing machine developed, mainly, for line sowing of jute and other small seeded upland crops. • The durable and transparent seed box facilitates the visibility of seed quantity in the box during operation. • The hoe type furrow openers fitted ahead of seed box facilitates opening of optimum furrow depth for seed sowing. • The bigger size ground wheels with pegs and the bearings attached on drive shaft facilitates easy movement of machine on tilled soil. • There is reduction of about 50 % of seed requirement i.e. 2.8-3.0 kg/ha against 6-7 kg/ha in broadcast sowing method. • Maintains uniform plant population in the field. • The effective field capacity (EFC) of the machine is 0.18 to 0.20 ha/h at the operational speed of 1.6 -2.0 km/h. • The field efficiency of machine is 90-95 % with average draft of operation is 85.02 N. • The drudgery is less on farm labour, as the average power requirement for operation is 41.93 W, which could be easily pulled by a man or women for 2-3 hours continuously.• The machine can also be used for sowing of other small seeded crops. • Very easy to use, low cost and no specific skill is required to operate or adjust the machine. • Facilitates mechanical or chemical weed control measures, which reduces requirement of manual labour and cost of cultivation. • The dependence on human labour for weeding and thinning is minimized. • Due to evenly and healthy plant population, the overall fibre yield increases about 20-22 per cent. • The machine is very ideal for small and marginal farmers for line sowing of jute and other small seeded crops for reduction in seed rate, labour and cost requirement for weeding with increase in yield. • By using the machine, the farmers can earn additional monetary benefit.