The Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute has designed a farmer-friendly PVC marker for transplanting nurseries in place of the conventional heavy iron roller marker. The PVC marker is important farm application , particularly for those who adopt the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method. The PVC marker contains a set of three PVC pipes attached to one another and can be rolled in the fields for making the markings. The labourers can immediately transplant the nurseries by identifying the markings.
The main advantage of the PVC marker is that the markings are quite visible even in damp soil where water is stagnant. The markings would not be so distinct in the conventional iron rollers, said G.Kathiresan, professor and head, Department of Agricultural Sciences of the college. The new equipment needs less manpower for transplanting the nurseries. Just eight workers would be needed for an acre against 18 workers under the old method. The new roller costs just Rs.200 against the Rs.1,100 for iron markers.
With a view to popularise the new marker among farmers, a demonstration programme was organised on the college premises recently in which farmers from Pullampadi and Lalgudi blocks took part. Manivannan, Assistant Director of Agriculture, appealed to the farmers to make the most of the device.
