versatile multi-crop planter for two-wheel tractors: an innovative option for smallholders. enamul...

Haque ME*, Bell RW, Islam AKMS, Sayre K, and Hossain MM*Email: enamul.haque71@gmail.com

WelcomeVersatile Multi-crop Planter for Two-wheel Tractors:

An Innovative Option for Smallholders

• AusAID• Australian Center for International Agricultural Research• Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute• Bangladesh Agricultural University• Bangladesh Rice Research Institute• Farmers

• Farm Machinery Manufacturer• International Development Enterprise• International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center• Murdoch University, WA• Smallholders Service Providers Group

Acknowledgement

Location map of Bangladesh

Between 20034' and 26038' north latitude and between 88001' and 92041 east longitude

Bangladesh agriculture in a brief• Average land holdings : 0.60 ha• Cropping Intensity: > 220%• Major Cropping Patterns

– Rice – Fallow – Rice– Rice – Wheat - Fallow– Rice – Potato - Maize – Rice – Wheat – Mungbean– Rice – Lentil – Jute

• Main Seasons– Monsoon (July – October)– Winter (November – February)– Summer (March – June)

Status of farm mechanization• Tillage/puddled operation ~ 85% (mainly 2

wheel tractor based)• Irrigation - >90%• Threshing/Shelling

– Rice (70-80%)– Wheat (80-90%)– Maize (95%)

• Milling/husking : 95%

Why two wheel tractor (2WT)?• Easy to access in the small field

• Easy to operate and maintain

• Relatively affordable

• Tractors and spares are available in the local level

• Repair and maintenance technicians are available at the village level

• Minimum operation and maintenance cost

• Minimum training needed

• Multipurpose use (custom hiring business)

• Proven and sustainable technologies

Chinese made 12-16 hp 2WT, > 0.4 million are using in Bangladesh

covering 85%Price per unit: US$ 1200 - 1600

Farm level adoption of 2WT based planters Planter Year of 1st

introductionUnits adopted for on-farm planting

Comments

2BG-6A 1995 >1000 Full rotary tillage, only seeding not real CA

Strip tillage 1995 0 Farmers not accepted that time

Toolbar frame ZT 1997 0 Poor residue handlingPoor weed managementLow field capacity

Toolbar frame bed planter 1998 0 Extensive pre-tillageHigher fuel consumptionFixed bed width

Single Pass Bed Planter 2007 0 Single planting mode

Versatile Multi-crop Planter 2009 14*

* including 4 and 2 units exported to India and Vietnam, respectively.

Versatile Multi-crop Planter for Two-wheel Tractors: An Innovative Option for Smallholders

• Seeding and fertilizer application in line for 5 tillage operations:1. Single pass shallow tillage 2. Strip tillage (both for wide/narrow and deep/shallow)3. Zero tillage4. Bed planting system (for single pass new bed making or re-

shaping of permanent beds)5. Conventional tillage system

• Power requirement: 12 - 16 hp• Sowing width in one pass: 70 cm up to four rows• Seeding of suitable crops: Wheat, rice, mungbean,

sesame, chickpea, lentil, jute, black gram, mustard, etc.• Net weight: 153-165 Kgs.• Price per unit: US$ 750-1000 in Dhaka, Bangladesh

The VMP and specifications

Fertilizer Box

Seed Box

Power Transmission Sprocket

Seed Meter Off/On Leaver

Seed Delivery Tube

Furrow Opener

Seed Rate Adjustment Handle

Pressing Roller

Bed Shaper

Fluted Type Seed Meter

Connecting Rod

Off/on Gear Leaver for Rotary Shaft

Hitching Part with 2-Wheel Tractor

Power Transmission Chain Box (To Rotary

Shaft)

Fertilizer Meter

Cover of the Rotary Shaft

Toolbar Frame

Depth Control Bar

Rotary Tine Holders (in each line four tines could be set)

Square rotary shaft is used to fix the clamping type tine holders with 4 blades/tines

Performance characteristics of VMP in different tillage modesLentil Rajshahi, 2009-10

Tillage type Field capacity (ha/hour)

Fuel consumption (l/ha)

Labour requirement, (person-hours/ha)

Cost of land preparation

and seeding§ (US$/ha)

Conventional Tillage 0.11a 33.1a 48.1a 41.5a

Single Pass Shallow Tillage

0.07b 20.6c 15.4c 19.8d

Strip Tillage 0.07b 5.83e 15.3c 10.3d

Zero Tillage 0.06b 16.6d 17.3c 18.1c

Bed Planting 0.05b 28.9b 23.9b 28.8b

Probability (<1% level) ** ** ** **

§ Considering variable costs for labour and diesel fuel.

VMP based Single Pass Shallow Tillage

Early stage chickpea planted by VMP

Later stage chickpea planted by VMP

Strip Tillage by VMP

Early stage strip tillage lentil planted by VMP

Early stage strip tillage maize land prepared by VMP

Early stage strip tillage Chickpea by VMP

VMP based Zero Tillage Planter in Operation with press wheel

VMP Zero Tillage Lentil

VMP Zero Tillage Chickpea VMP Zero Tillage Wheat

Zero Tillage by VMP

VMP is used to re-shape permanent bed to plant maize

Single pass bed formation by VMP

VMP is being used to make wider and deeper strip and plant potato in 100%

residue retention condition

Direct Seeded Rice (space/hill dropping) by VMP

Early stage (hill to hill 15 cm row to row 20 cm)

Later stage

DSR by VMP at farmers field

Location of VMP demonstration and trials in the Bangladesh map.

Area coverage and number of farmers received services for establishing various crops by the 4 studied VMPs.

VMP Trials and Adoption in Bangladesh November 2010– March 2011

More presentation on VMP works in 5WCCA

Poster 4 Poster 13

More presentation on VMP works in 5WCCA

Poster 25

Conference: Conservation Agriculture for Small Holders

February 2013, Dhaka, Bangladesh

• Proposed Themes:– Planter design, R&D, innovation– CA practices (min. tillage, rotation, residue)– Resource use – Weed, pests, and disease management– On farm demonstration and research– Planter value chain and commercialization including credit availability– Enabling services and technologies (e.g. sprayers)

We are cordially inviting you for the participation with technical papers, posters, and sponsorship

Further details: r.bell@murdoch.edu.au OR enamul.haque@ide-bangladesh.org