M A Wohab
Senior Scientific Officer
Farm Machinery and Post harvest Process Engineering Division
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute
Gazipur-1701
K C Roy
Chief Scientific Officer
Farm Machinery and Post harvest Process Engineering Division
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute
Gazipur-1701
F R Khan
Principal Scientific Officer
Farm Machinery and Post harvest Process Engineering Division
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute
Gazipur-1701
Observing the demonstration of High Speed Rotary tiller (HSRT), 65 units were purchased by the farmers of Rajbari, Magura and Jhenaidah districts. The average area covered by each tiller was 27 ha. Field performance of HSRT on onion cultivation was compared with traditional power tiller. Time saved for preparing land by HSRT was 56% compared to traditional tiller. Cost of land preparation by HSRT and traditional tiller were 3,400 Tk/ha and 4,500 Tk/ha, respectively. Time and money required for planting onion in HSRT fields were 114 man-day/ha and 7,980 Tk/ha, respectively and those by traditional tillers were 148 man-day/ha and 10,360 Tk/ha, respectively. Due to better tilth and higher plant population, yield of onion was increased by 18% over traditional method. Net benefit earned by the farmer for onion cultivation using HSRT was 34,450 Tk/ha. The tiller was also used for potato cultivation. Comparative study of HSRT with traditional tiller for potato cultivation was also conducted. Time saved for preparing land by HSRT was 63% compared to traditional tiller. Cost of land preparation by HSRT and traditional tiller were 3,700 Tk/ha and 4,450 Tk/ha, respectively. Yield of potato was 11.7% higher in HSRT than traditional tiller.
Power tiller, field capacity, garlic, onion, potato, tillage
Rajbari, Jhenaidah, Magura
Farm Mechanization
1.To use the high speed rotary tiller for onion, garlic and potato cultivation.
2. To compare the machine performances with traditional practice
In 2004, fourteen units PTOS were sold to the farmers of Rajbari, Magura and Jhenaidah districts. Observing the benefits of PTOS, 43 units PTOS were purchased by the farmers of Rajbari and Magura districts in 2005. These 57 units PTOS were imported from China and used by the farmers as high speed rotary tiller (HSRT) after removing seed metering units and other allied parts from the seeder. They used the tiller for preparing land for upland crops such as onion, garlic, potato and other crops. Fifty three units PTOS were sold to the farmers on credit and 4 unit in cash. Farmers paid 50% of the cost before receiving the PTOS and the rest 50% of the cost was paid in 12 months in 12 installments. Loan recovered from the farmers were 100% in due time. Before delivering PTOS to the farmers, a two days training programme was conducted in project site, Beruli Bazar under Rajbari district. Maximum HSRT owner used the tiller as their business for preparing land for onion, garlic and other upland crops. In most of the cases, first ploughing was done by traditional tiller and second ploughing by HSRT. By these systems, two ploughings were enough for onion and garlic planting. But the traditional tillers require 5-7 tillage operations for final land preparation.
Except selling to the farmers, 3 units HSRT were distributed to the farmers of Sherpur, Faridpur and Pabna districts for block demonstration. In FSR site Kusumhati, under Sherpur district, 5 ha for potato, 0.5 ha for wheat and other vegetable fields were prepared by HSRT. A field day was also conducted in the FSR site. In Faridpur, one unit HSRT was given to a farmer for block demonstration for onion cultivation.
Research Report
High Speed Rotary Tiller (HSRT) is a good tillage machine for onion, garlic and potato cultivation. Farmers in all the sites are interested to purchase HSRT for their own use as well as for business. The loan system could be a good opportunity for machinery extension to the farmers. Use of HSRT can save fuel, oil, maintenance cost, environmental pollution, time, money and drudgery. It can play an important role in maintaining soil health through reduced tillage.
Report/Proceedings, Booklet/Leaflet