Happy Seeder Machine Enable Direct Drilling of Wheat (Triticum aestivum) in Rice-wheat Cropping System

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 by Krishi Vigyan Kendra Muktsar, to find out the performance of happy seeder machine for sowing of wheat after rice crop. Happy seeder tackles the problem of paddy straw which can convert this waste into resource. In the area, farmers generally burn rice residues because they felt that it interferes with tillage and seeding operations for the succeeding crops and it has no much economical use. The average grain yield revealed that happy seeder sown crop gave 47.5 q/ha grain yield as compared to 49.6 q/ha in conventional sown method. Net return was calculated during all the years. Happy seeder sown crop gave higher net return (Rs 55279.2/ha) from conventional method (Rs. 52189.7/ha). Net return was higher due to less cost of cultivation (Rs. 22325/ha) from Rs 28641.6/ha under conventional sowing method. So with Happy seeder, low cost of production with respect to conventional tillage system gave maximum net return and it is a cost effective technology. The cost of cultivation in happy seeder was also lesser than conventional method mainly due to less cost on tillage preparation, saving in weedicides, fertilizers etc. Farmers are more interested in variable costs and economic return of newly introduced enterprises. Economic analysis assists researches to plan their research for detailed investigation and to make decision, so that it may be recommended to the farmers. So, economic analysis is essential to check the profitability and net return of the system.