As part of the ongoing initiative to address paddy residue management and promote environmentally responsible farming practices, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Bahowal, Hoshiarpur, organized a field demonstration of the PAU Smart Seeder in Thinda village on November 5, 2023.

During the event, Dr Maninder Singh Bons, Associate Director (Training), KVK Hoshiarpur, emphasized the collective responsibility of preventing environmental contamination and ensuring clean air. He highlighted the dangers of stubble burning, which releases toxic pollutants that negatively impact air quality and public health by creating a thick blanket of smog. Dr Bons encouraged farmers to embrace various in-situ and ex-situ paddy residue management technologies for the betterment of society.

The field demonstration of the PAU Smart Seeder was conducted under the guidance of Dr Ajaib Singh, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Engineering; he explained that the PAU Smart Seeder is designed to plant wheat seeds in a well-tilled narrow band of soil, covering the seed rows with soil using furrow closing rollers. He said the machine can be operated with a 45 to 50-hp tractor, boasting a field capacity of 0.4 hectares per hour and a fuel consumption rate of 5.5 litres per acre. The technology also demonstrates excellent germination, crop stand, and adaptability to weather extremes.

S Onkar Singh, a progressive farmer from Thinda village, took the initiative to sow wheat using the Smart Seeder technology on a 6-acre area for the first time. He expressed satisfaction with the PAU Smart Seeder's performance in effectively managing crop residues and contributing to sustainable agriculture.