Weeders for Weeders for Use with SRIUse with SRI

Alternative Designs to SaveAlternative Designs to Save

Labor Time and EnergyLabor Time and Energy

For Easier Weeding….For Easier Weeding….

SRI recommends planting SRI recommends planting seedlings in a square seedlings in a square pattern, so a mechanical pattern, so a mechanical hand weeder (rotary hoe hand weeder (rotary hoe or cono-weeder or some or cono-weeder or some adaptation) can be used adaptation) can be used in two perpendicular in two perpendicular directions. This process directions. This process aerates the soil while aerates the soil while turning weeds back into turning weeds back into the soil to decompose.the soil to decompose.

The “Rotating Hoe”The “Rotating Hoe”In Sri Lanka, this tool is called the “Japanese weeder.”

In China, it is called the “wolf-fang weeder.”

Simple Cono-WeederSimple Cono-Weeder

This tool has hollow ‘cones’ with‘tooth-bars’ that churn the soil and weeds. It moves more easily

over the surface of the soil.

Double Cono-WeederDouble Cono-Weeder

An engineer in Madagascar took IRRI’s drawings and made an adjustable two-row weeder.

New Weeder Design in Sri New Weeder Design in Sri LankaLanka

H. M. Premaratna H. M. Premaratna has developed a has developed a new weeder design new weeder design that greatly reduces that greatly reduces the time needed to the time needed to do a soil-aerating, do a soil-aerating, weed-removing weed-removing operations. operations.

This is being manufactured locally in Sri Lanka for less than $10 each.

Advantages of this weederAdvantages of this weeder Premaratna’s weeder can reduces weeding Premaratna’s weeder can reduces weeding

time from 5-10 days/acre to 1-2 days/acre, time from 5-10 days/acre to 1-2 days/acre, farmers say. farmers say.

The ‘teeth’ of the new weeder, similar to the The ‘teeth’ of the new weeder, similar to the cono-weeder used in South India, do not get cono-weeder used in South India, do not get clogged with mud that needs to be clogged with mud that needs to be removed, because the weeder is always removed, because the weeder is always pushed forward -- not pushed and pulled, pushed forward -- not pushed and pulled, forward and backward, as must be done forward and backward, as must be done with many other hand weeders for removing with many other hand weeders for removing weeds and aerating the soilweeds and aerating the soil

Rotary weeder used in IndiaRotary weeder used in India

Weeder being demonstrated in Cuba

Weeder being used in SRI demonstrations in Senegal

Four-Row WeederFour-Row Weeder

Gopal Swaminathan in Kadiramangalam, Tamil Nadu, India, has designed and built a four-row weeder. It does not require more upper-body strength than a woman can provide.

Motorized WeederMotorized Weeder

Ariyatne Subasinghe, from Hingurakgoda, Sri Lanka, has designed and built a motorized weeder that enables

him to weed/aerate 2 ha in one day.

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University demonstration of SRI weeding

Using cono weeder in Tamil Nadu

Simplest Weeder Design – Association Tefy Saina, Madagascar

No moving parts -- two-person operation -- considered to be very thorough and quick

Cambodian weederdesign costing> $3 to build

Simplest weeder -- made byfarmer in Morang District, Nepal; costs only 25 cents

1 laborer can weed 1 are inthe time that 2-3 laborers

require for manual weeding

Health-Conscious Weeding

With a Simplified Rotary Weeder

Positive thinking about Weedingin the Philippines – ‘Aerobic Weeding’

What Next?What Next?