Govt pushes for happy seeder, farmers reluctant

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 22

The state government has been toiling hard to make farmers adopt the mechanism that helps check stubble-burning and happy seeder is one such equipment recommended by it.

Happy seeder is a tractor-mounted implement that cuts and lifts paddy straw, sows wheat into the bare soil and deposits the straw over the sown area as mulch. But sadly, farmers have not shown much interest in adopting this technology, which was made clear by them yesterday when Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh exhorted them to use it during the inaugural address of the two-day Kissan Mela at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). The farmers present there, however, raised their voice in dissent.

There are some farmers who have been using this technology for the past few years, but not many are coming forward to adopting this.

Dr Jaskarn Singh Mahal, Director, Extension Education, PAU,s aid: “There are farmers and kisan unions opposing the move. They feel that the government is forcing extra work on them. These farmers are not opposing happy seeder per se, they are opposed to any move to bring automation in the farm sector. Their mindset is that they will not give up the practice they have been following. It is for them to understand that doing anything extra will eventually pay them in terms of improved productivity.”

He claimed that the happy seeder was tested technology as many farmers started using it more than 10 years ago, with some using it since 2006.

Himmat Singh, a farmer from Nabha, said: “The main reason for farmers saying no to happy seeder is that it involves consumption of more diesel, time and effort. Farmers get no immediate returns and they are not ready to lose money just for smoke.”

He added that the cost of the machine was around Rs 1.2-1.3 lakh, although the government was also giving a subsidy up to 50 per cent.

A progressive farmer, Paramjit Kaur of Ajitwal village, said farmers were opposing happy seeder over the fact that it did not result in more harvest. “While using happy seeder one has to be patient as it does not give immediate results. The yield increases with the passage of time,” she said.

Agri varsity backs it 

Farm experts say after three years of use, happy seeder helps in increasing productivity and reduces the use of water. Other advantages include reduction in weed and reduced fuel cost. As it is a zero tillage technology, lesser diesel is required.

Why opposition? 

Farmers say the equipment costs more than Rs 1 lakh and it involves consumption of more diesel, time and effort. Farmers do not get immediate returns and they are not ready to adopt it even as the government gives a subsidy up to 50 per cent.