Hyderabad, India: Mahindra & Mahindra’s Farm Equipment Sector, the world’s largest manufacturer of tractors by volumes, today launched a new range of rice transplanters in Telangana.
A rice transplanter is a specialised machine, to transplant paddy seedlings into paddy fields, to ensure uniform transplanting which helps increase yield, it is labour and time saving as compared to manual transplanting. The new technology can help farmers overcome issues related to labour shortage especially during these difficult times.
Mahindra launched the Mahindra PlantingMaster Paddy 4RO, India’s first 4-row ride-on type rice transplanter. The company had previously introduced the Mahindra MP461 walk-behind rice transplanter. Mahindra’s rice transplanters are designed by Mitsubishi Mahindra Agricultural Machinery of Japan and are customised to the specific needs of Indian rice farmers. The new rice transplanters of Japanese technology offers state-of-the-art features, quality and ease of operation.
According to the company, at a price of Rs. 7.5 lakhs, Mahindra PlantingMaster Paddy 4RO ride-on type transplanter is the only affordable product of its kind in the country. This rice transplanter is best suited for farmers with larger holdings and rental entrepreneurs and comes with sophisticated features such as 4-wheel drive technology, power steering, smile U-turn – 180 degree turning radius, and a host of features for driver comfort and convenience.
For smaller farms, Mahindra offers the Mahindra MP461 rice transplanter a walk behind model priced at Rs. 2.8 lakhs.
Highlighting the importance of mechanisation in rice farming, Hemant Sikka, President – Mahindra Farm Equipment Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra said, “At Mahindra we want to change the way rice farming is done. Inspite of India being the second largest rice producing country in the world, our rice cultivation continues to be under-mechanised. While mechanisation in land preparation and rice harvesting is widespread, less than 1% of rice transplanting is mechanised. Mechanisation of rice transplanting will allow timeliness and speed of operations, lower cost of cultivation and increased yields.”
“With the introduction of our new portfolio of rice transplanters, with our partners Mitsubishi Mahindra Agricultural Machinery of Japan, we want to enable income growth for millions of Indian rice farmers, including in Telangana, where farmers are also experiencing challenges related to labour shortage due to Covid.” Sikka added.
Talking about the launch of the Mahindra PlantingMaster Paddy 4RO, Kairas Vakharia – Senior Vice President, Farm Machinery, M&M said, “At Mahindra we are proud to launch our portfolio of rice transplanters in Telangana. Farmers in Telangana who have tried this new technology last season, reported a growth in crop yields of 10% and more. The new rice transplanters will offer high precision, are durable and a have lower operating cost. They are also backed by Mahindra’s extensive service and spares network and help augment our presence in the rice transplanter market in India.”
Mechanised transplanting ensures uniformity in planting depth, plant to plant distance, row to row distance and number of saplings per spot. With uniform spacing, each plant gets equal nutrients, proper sunlight, and adequate air flow, ensuring a healthier crop and ultimately higher yields. Mahindra’s rice transplanters have adjustments to accommodate different paddy varieties, agronomic practices, and field conditions. Farmers can set the machine for plant-to-plant distance and planting depth.
Besides service and spares, Mahindra and its network of dealers also offer training to farmers on paddy nursery preparation and transplanter operation and maintenance.
