The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Hoshiarpur, and the Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering (FMPE), organized a field day at Thinda village in Block Mahilpur. The event focused on demonstrating the PAU Smart Seeder and its role in sustainable agricultural practices, particularly in paddy residue management and wheat sowing.
Addressing Environmental Concerns
During the event, experts highlighted the urgent need for efficient agricultural practices to tackle environmental issues. A keynote address underscored the importance of reducing stubble burning, which emits pollutants that deteriorate air quality and contribute to smog, posing serious health hazards. The discussion emphasized how agricultural machinery, including the PAU Smart Seeder, can provide effective alternatives for managing paddy residue while ensuring high crop productivity.
Village Thinda: A Model for Sustainable Farming
KVK Hoshiarpur adopted Thinda village for the Rabi 2024-25 season, introducing various initiatives such as training programs, awareness camps, and field demonstrations aimed at promoting residue management practices. Farmers in the village successfully utilized the PAU Smart Seeder to sow wheat on 60 acres, showcasing the machine’s capability to place seeds within a precisely tilled narrow soil band while using furrow-closing rollers to ensure proper soil coverage.
Insights from Agricultural Experts
Several agricultural experts provided insights into farm mechanization and sustainable techniques during the event. Discussions covered government policies on financial support for agricultural accident victims, safety measures in farming, and the role of mechanization in improving efficiency. Experts also educated farmers about in-situ residue management techniques, including the PAU Surface Seeder and Happy Seeder, which work alongside the PAU Smart Seeder in sustainable farming practices. Additionally, information was shared on agro-processing for value addition and the use of paddy straw as an alternative fodder for livestock, reducing dependence on wheat straw.
Demonstrating the PAU Smart Seeder
The PAU Smart Seeder, an advanced version of the Happy Seeder, was a key highlight of the event. Developed by PAU for direct wheat sowing in paddy residues, the machine is designed to minimize soil disturbance while ensuring efficient residue management. Unlike conventional methods, it uses a strip tillage mechanism, which tills only the required area for sowing, preserving soil health. The machine can be operated with a 45-50 horsepower tractor and is capable of sowing wheat in 10-12 acres per day.
Field demonstrations revealed the advantages of the machine’s technical design, including its fixed disc plates for furrow-making and press wheels for seed coverage. Farmers observed that wheat crops sown using this technology showed higher seedling emergence rates—between 15.5% and 25.6% more than crops sown using the Happy Seeder and Super Seeder. Moreover, the PAU Smart Seeder demonstrated superior performance in wet soil conditions where other seeders often struggle, while also reducing diesel consumption by approximately 50%.
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Scaling Adoption Through Subsidy Schemes
The PAU Smart Seeder has been recognized for its potential in sustainable farming and has been included in the centrally sponsored Crop Residue Management (CRM) subsidy scheme by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. The machine has been recommended by the Research Evaluation Committee of PAU for direct wheat sowing in paddy residues, offering a solution that incorporates the benefits of both the Happy Seeder and Super Seeder in a single system.
Since its initial trials, the machine has gained traction among farmers. During the wheat sowing season of 2021-22, it was successfully demonstrated on 580 acres across Punjab and Haryana, in partnership with CII Foundation and M/s Corteva Agriscience, Hyderabad. PAU has further collaborated with ten agricultural machinery manufacturers to commercialize the Smart Seeder, ensuring its availability to a larger farming community.
The State Department of Agriculture, Punjab, is expected to invite applications from farmers interested in availing subsidies on the PAU Smart Seeder. Its inclusion in the CRM subsidy scheme provides an additional option for farmers to transition away from residue burning, aligning with the broader goal of environmental protection and sustainable agriculture.
A field visit during the event allowed farmers and experts to assess wheat crops sown with the PAU Smart Seeder and other residue management technologies. Attendees expressed satisfaction with the growth of the crops and acknowledged the effectiveness of the demonstrated techniques. The event reinforced the role of agricultural technology in addressing environmental concerns while ensuring efficient farm operations.