Ludhiana: A tractor-operated mat-type nursery seeder developed by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) is transforming paddy cultivation in Punjab by speeding up nursery preparation, slashing labour costs, and accelerating the adoption of mechanised paddy transplantation.Developed after nearly four years of research, the machine automates mat nursery preparation in a single pass—leveling the bed, laying plastic sheets, filling soil, sowing seeds, and covering them automatically. The innovation has removed a major bottleneck in paddy mechanisation, with a single operator able to prepare nursery for 150 to 175 acres in a day, compared to conventional manual methods where two labourers could cover only five acres daily.Dr Arshdeep Singh, extension scientist at PAU’s Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, said: “The machine performs all operations in a single pass. It levels the bed, lays the plastic sheet, fills soil, places the seed and covers it with soil automatically. A single tractor operator can now prepare nursery for nearly 150 to 175 acres in a day.”Dr Arshdeep noted that beyond increasing operational speed by over 30 times, the precision machine ensures uniform seed placement and aeration, yielding healthier seedlings. Costing around Rs 3.25 lakh, the machine is also fostering rural entrepreneurship, as farmers purchase it to offer custom hiring services to others.Farmers have reported significant improvements in efficiency. Ramandeep Singh, a farmer and govt teacher from Sidhwan Bet, said: “Earlier, preparing mat nurseries required considerable time and a large number of labourers. Now the work has become much simpler and much faster. Besides reducing labour requirements, the quality of the nursery has improved substantially, resulting in better seedling growth.” Commercial adoption is already visible, with a Sangrur farmer purchasing two machines to run custom hiring operations.Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt, director of research at PAU, said: “This machine is expediting nursery preparation while reducing labour requirements and associated costs. By removing one of the major constraints in mechanised transplantation, it would further help farmers adopt modern cultivation practices more efficiently.”With Punjab shifting toward mechanised transplantation to combat labor shortages and enhance water-use efficiency, agricultural experts expect the machine to play a crucial role in modernising state agriculture and bolstering rural incomes.
Developed after nearly four years of research, the machine automates mat nursery preparation in a single pass—leveling the bed, laying plastic sheets, filling soil, sowing seeds, and covering them automatically
