There have been times when machines have replaced human beings and that brought upon frustration and fury. Not in this instance. When mechanised farming takes precedence, the advantages of not doing it the old fashioned way, with human labour, are tremendous. Though it has existed and has been used in parts of the state for a while now, the seed drill method of sowing has finally
received the department of agriculture’s stamp. In the presence of agricultural officers from the department, a local agriculture company showcased the seed drill, through demonstrations and tests in South Goa. The fields in Nuvem
and Verna were the staging ground for this innovative method
that dates back to the early ages, but was refined somewhere
at the beginning of the 18th Century. In Asia however, many
still use the age old method of ‘broadcasting’, unlike America,
Australia and Europe, where they use seed drilling and other
modern methods. Where these countries got it right, was
in using mechanised farming to
their advantage. Not only does seed
drilling, for instance, reduce the
need for manual labour, but it also
ends up saving a decent percentage
of seed, which would otherwise be
lost if planting was done using traditional
methods. If a farmer was
to plant rice by the broadcasting
method, he would walk through
the field, throwing seed onto the
soil, or into furrows which are manually created. Once this
is done, then the farmer and labourers would physically pull
soil over the seeds, fertilizing the land later. The seed drill, like
the name suggests, makes a furrow or hole in the ground, at a
specified depth and deposits the seed in it. It can also deposit
fertilizer like urea, along with the seed. The seed is then covered
with soil. All this is done mechanically. So, there is proper
depth maintained, as well as spacing out seeds while planting,
and a proper amount of seeds are planted. Seed drilling
is especially advantageous in areas that are rain-fed, just how
the system of rice intensification (SRI) method works best in
areas that are irrigation-fed. One more positive of seed drilling
is that weeding is done automatically during seeding.
This mechanised method has been used in other states like
Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, for instance. China has been using
seed drilling for centuries, in different forms, which has given
them efficient food production. If Goa does get on to the seed
drill bandwagon then it will certainly boost the State’s agricultural
production. The department of agriculture will need
to work with manufacturers, to buy seed drills that can then
be used by farmers across Goa. Tamil Nadu, in 2013 purchased
over 40 of these seed drill machines and have since then added
to the number. With enough encouragement here, rice production
can take on a positive turn. There are things to be
kept in mind though. The department will have to ensure that
proper depths are maintained for seed planting, that fertilizer
is planted at a safe distance from the seed and that soil moisture
and other factors are maintained. Just using the seed drill
machine will be useless if all environmental and other factors
aren’t regulated. All said and done, the agricultural industry in
Goa just got a massive shot in the arm.
