THRISSUR:Ridge plastering work, the only manual work that is still practised in the paddy fields, will soon become a thing of the past, with the introduction of the Ridge plastering machine.
The machine is introduced in India by Kerala Agricultural University’s (KAU) Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy. It has successfully completed its trial run.
It is the latest arsenal to the Food Security Army of India and with this the mechanisation of paddy farming is almost nearing its finishing point, said professor U Jayakumar, project head in KAU.
Field making, transplanting, weeding and harvesting operation have already been completely mechanised. Ridge plastering, an operation where field bunds are trimmed and thereafter plastered and compacted using the earth excavated, was being done manually.
Manually, an average skilled person can trim and plaster 90-120m of bund per day. The cost at present is `5 per metre.
The Ridge plastering machine has an output of 900-1,000m/hr, which means trimming and plastering can be done at the rate of `0.5 per metre.
The new machine, initially manufactured in Japan and Taiwan, is operated using PTO power of a 40-70hp tractor upon which it is mounted.
This attachment weighs about 390kg with overall dimensions of 1,620mm length, 1,660mm width and 1,130mm height. The introductory price of the machine is `4.25 lakh.
Hydraulic power of tractor is used to change the direction of operation as well as the precise adjustment for ridge plastering. The PTO drive is connected to the transmission unit of the machine, from where power is distributed to the three rotating parts.
Farm mechanisation has become inevitable because the mechanisation in rice cultivation is saving energy to some extent and enhancing profitability in many respects.