Punjab Agri-Director lauds PAU developed surface seeder technology for exceptional results

Ludhiana, February 26, 2024: The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has earned a rare distinction with the development of ‘Surface Seeder’ technology that has been highly commended by Dr Jaswant Singh, Director, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Punjab, during his visit to the fields of the village Hassanpur in the district Ludhiana. 

Elated to see the performance of the wheat crop sown with the ‘Surface Seeder’ machine, Dr Singh called for promoting it on a mass scale in Punjab and making adjoining states aware of this productive technology. Dr Singh was accompanied by Dr AS Dhatt, Director of Research; Dr MS Bhullar, Director of Extension Education, PAU; officers of the State Department of Agriculture; and extension personnel from Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Farm Advisory Service Centres.

While touring Hassanpur village, Dr Singh visited the fields of the farmers, namely Sardar Harminder Singh and Sardar Amandeep Singh who had sown 47 acres of wheat using ‘Surface Seeder’ in a combine harvested paddy field, keeping whole paddy straw as mulch. Experts found that the crop stand was excellent and the farmers were highly satisfied with the exceptional results stemming from this new technology. Farmers said that they had started adopting Surface Seeding technology, three years back, on one to two acres. Encouraged by its outstanding results including lesser expenses on sowing (Rs 400/acre only), lesser weeds, higher wheat grain yield as well as higher yield of succeeding crop, they increased the area under this technology.

Further, sharing their experiences, Sardar Harminder Singh and Sardar Amandeep Singh told, “Earlier, we would go in for manual broadcast but this year, we used ‘Surface Seeder’ with which the sowing was much easier as it performed uniform broadcast of wheat seed and basal fertilizer. Surface Seeder sowed 10 acres/day easily and expenditure was only three litres of diesel/acre.”

Impressed by exceptional crop condition and interaction with farmers, Dr Jaswant Singh stressed on its large scale adoption as it provided a practical and viable solution to paddy residue management. Following the old saying ‘Seeing is Believing,’ he directed all the Chief Agriculture Officers to organize exposure visits of the farmers in their respective districts.

Enumerating numerous benefits of this technology comprising better soil health and higher crop productivity, Dr Dhatt said it had a potential to make Punjab a ‘zero burning state.’

Dr Bhullar informed that the University will organize exposure visits, and conduct capacity building programmes for agricultural officers, extension personnel and farmers before next wheat season, for effective implementation of this technology across Punjab and neighbouring states.