Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan recently reviewed the ongoing research and innovations at the ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering (ICAR-CIAE), Bhopal. Addressing scientists, students, and staff, the Minister lauded the institute’s significant contributions to agricultural development and stressed the urgent need to accelerate the creation and dissemination of farmer-friendly technologies, especially for small and marginal farmers.
During his visit, Shri Chouhan assessed the institute’s recent progress and emphasized the importance of tailoring agricultural mechanization strategies to the specific needs of various regions through the All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs) network. He urged the institute to plan a 10-year roadmap for mechanization under the Viksit Bharat Abhiyan, focusing on innovations like small engine-operated equipment and machinery powered by alternative energy sources. He also highlighted the growing relevance of sensor-based systems to ensure inclusive growth across all farming communities.
The Minister proposed organizing Farmer’s Fairs across different regions and hosting a national brainstorming session with stakeholders to strategize the future of farm mechanization. He further underscored the importance of ensuring food safety, preserving soil health, and strengthening the transfer of technology from lab to land.
Shri Chouhan also visited technology exhibits and appreciated the institute’s latest innovations, particularly a newly developed tractor-operated plastic mulch layer-cum-planter.
This innovative equipment addresses the labor-intensive and time-consuming process of raised bed formation, drip lateral and plastic mulch laying, and seed planting—previously requiring about 29 man-days per hectare. The new machine mechanizes these tasks simultaneously, using a tractor’s hydraulic system to operate an eccentric slider crank mechanism via a hydraulic motor and chain-sprocket transmission. Seeds are metered pneumatically and planted through a synchronized mechanism that accurately places them in the plastic mulch using a “D”-shaped punch mechanism.
The equipment offers a field capacity of 0.2 ha/h and a field efficiency of 74% at an operating speed of 1.7 km/h and 1-meter operational width. Priced at ?3,00,000, the machine has an operational cost of ?1,500/hour, with a payback period of 1.9 years (444 hours) and a break-even point of 70 hours per year.
It allows adjustment of row and plant spacing between 0.5 to 0.9 meters and 0.2 to 0.6 meters, respectively. Compared to existing machines, it saves 26 man-days per hectare (89%) and reduces operational costs by ?6,600 per hectare (43%).
The machine is particularly suitable for cultivating high-value crops like melons, cucumber, sweet corn, baby corn, green peas, okra, and beans using plastic mulch.
The event was attended by several senior ICAR officials, including Dr. M.L. Jat, Secretary (DARE) & DG, ICAR; Dr. S.N. Jha, DDG (Engineering); Dr. A.K. Nayak, DDG (Extension); Dr. C.R. Mehta, Director, ICAR-CIAE; and Dr. M. Mohanty, Director, ICAR-IISS, Bhopal.