Mechanization in rice farming
Mechanization in rice farming
| Name of KVK | : | KVK, Roha, Raigad |
| Crop & variety
Enterprise |
: | Mechanization in rice farming |
| Name & address | : | Shri. Ganesh Balkrishna Mhaskar
At. Muthavali, Po. Pugaon, Tal. Roha, Dist. Raigad |
| Background Info | : | Shri. GaneshMhaskar is traditionally a rice-growing farmer, which is his family’s way of earning. He used to accomplish all farming operations with the help of family members as well as few hired labor using manual or bullock drawn implements. He owns 3 ha of land which is generally used for rice cultivation, from which he used to earn about Rs. 1.00 lakh per year. He contacted KVK in the year 2010 when he started to face difficulties in obtaining labor for farming activities and suffered losses due to increasing wages. Since then he has attended vocational training, various demonstrations, farmers’ rallies etc. organized by KVK that has helped him to get first-hand information. |
| Technology demonstrated | : | 1. Power tiller operation & maintenance
KVK scientists advised Mr. Mhaskar to introduce different aspects of mechanization in his rice farming. He initially started using power tiller for puddling operation before transplanting, which he used to complete with bullock drawn plough before. Later on he has purchased his own power tiller and started renting it out after completing his own fieldwork. 2. Mechanization in paddy harvesting On-farm trials of vertical conveyor reaper were conducted on his farm by KVK. He was quite convinced with the technology and started harvesting rice using reaper. |
| Institutional involvement | : | Mr. GaneshMhaskar is ex-trainee of a vocational training programme on “Operation &Maintenance of Power tiller” organized by KVK, Roha. He obtained the expertise and know-how of practical utilization of power tiller in this training.
Moreover, he is also a beneficiary of on-farm trials of paddy reaper machine which were conducted at his field. |
| Success point | : | Introduction of mechanization on his paddy farm has helped Mr. Mhaskarto reduce input costs. Compared to traditional methods of plowing, puddling and harvesting paddy, use of machinery has reduced the cost of cultivation per ha to the tune of 70%. Various field operations are also completed in time as there is no hassle of finding labor to perform fieldwork. |
| Outcome | : | With the intervention of power tiller, cost of puddling rice field was reduced by 50%. Seeing this success he initiated his own venture of custom hiring of power tiller by purchasing one of his own. This has added to his annual income by Rs. 0.50 lakh.
Due to use of reaper cost of harvesting is brought down to 70% of traditional harvesting method and also a lot of valuable time is saved. This definitely help him increase profits from rice farming. |
| Practice used | Total cost of cultivation
(Rs./ha) |
Gross income
(Rs./ha) |
Net income
(Rs./ha) |
Cost-benefit ratio |
| Mechanized rice cultivation | 28,200 | 50,440 | 22,240 | 1:1.79 |