The new drill has a capability of sowing several small and large seeded crops (wheat, rice soybean, peas, Indian mustard, lentil, okra, maize, mung bean, Bengal gram, urd beans) seeds along with fertilizer. Due to the narrow width of the drill (60 cm), it allows the farmers to use it on the narrow terraces in hilly regions closer to the rising wall of the terrace.

The seed-cum-fertilizer box mounted on an iron frame is basically divided into two chambers, each to hold seeds and fertilizer separately. The capacity of each chamber is 10-15 kg, to avoid the need for frequent refills and facilitate seed placement of appropriate depth, which could also be adjusted, with the help of a screw type levering system. There is a provision to stop the flow of fertilizer and seed. To stop seed / fertilizer flow, one has to just pull the clutch cable and push the rear press wheel forward. This brings the machine in neutral and lifts the machine, ready for moving to other fields.

The seed metering mechanism is innovative as it allows the farmer to use this drill for many dry sown crops ranging from maize to finger millet. The metering mechanism can handle even rice grain seed. In order to wipe out any extra seed dropping from the seeding cup (dye-casted, according to grain size) a nylon brush has been provided at the top of the seed slit inside the seed box. Screwing in will also lift the brush up to increase the seed rate. The seed rate control is also provided through a 3-gear chain type system that increases or reduces the revolutions of the seeding cups. The gears can be changed by mounting the chain of any one of the three combinations provided to vary seed rate by releasing the spring tension on the chain.

The new improved machine has chisel type split openers. Seed and fertilizer tubes are fitted behind the opener. The mechanism is similar to the zero-tillage machines currently in use with many farmers. The tines are fitted to the main body of the drill. It helps the farmer to vary the inter-row spacing and allows seeding in 2-3 rows. He can fit extra number of tines if the situation demands. Basically three tines are provided at a spacing of 20 cm. The press wheel made of nylon betters seed to soil contact and avoids the bird damage. Phosphatic and potassic fertilizers can be drilled along with the seed. The drill has been introduced for direct seeding of rice in the present kharif season for vigorous field-testing on farmer’s fields. The new drill costs INR 5000 about $120 a piece. The drill developed in close cooperation of the RWC by M/s ASS foundry could be obtained from ASS Foundry, GT Road, Jandiala Guru, Amritsar-143 115, Punjab, India. Ph: +91 (0183) 432367, Fax: +91 (0183) 432545.