Prototype Transplanter: The Malaysian Rowcaster

Anizan Isahak, Nur Izzad Fahmi, Firdaus Nordin and Febri DoniFaculty of Science and Technology

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

SRI Equipment Workshop, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok 1-3 Nov 2014

SRI

Multiple seedling Deep establishment Difficult for rapid weeding

Problems in rice transplanting

SRI Equipment Workshop, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok 1-3 Nov 2014

high cost non-accessible

service dependent

Parachute transplanting or seedling throwing of rice seedlings reduces rice transplanting drudgery

Resolving the issue

SRI Equipment Workshop, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok 1-3 Nov 2014

Bubble tray for rice seedlings

Reduces cost Increases yieldIncreases productivityReduces drudgery

Very straight rows in both directionsImportant especially for when powered weeder and/or Multi-row weeder is employed(No separate marker needed)

The Solution

SRI Equipment Workshop, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok 1-3 Nov 2014

FRAME SEEDLING

ROWCASTER

SRI

Seedlings are placed in two seedling holder plates

Device is moved to the next position guided by front and side markers

The holder plates are dragged sideways

Seedlings with soil plugs intact are dropped into 16 tubes which guide them down on to the muddy field at fixed points

Instruction

SRI Equipment Workshop, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok 1-3 Nov 2014

Rice seedlings are grown in nursery trays

Sg.Leman and Seberang Perak in 2011 Sik in 2013 Sg. Pinang in 2014  

Preliminary field testing

SRI Equipment Workshop, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok 1-3 Nov 2014

Planting rate 90 per minute significantly surpassing the manual transplanting rate of 15 per minute by 4 – 5 times.

Why is this innovation a green technology initiative

SRI Equipment Workshop, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok 1-3 Nov 2014

Facilitates the use of advance mechanical weeders

Light

Gender friendly

Mechanical weeding is ecologically friendly.

Why is the Rowcaster farmer friendly

SRI Equipment Workshop, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok 1-3 Nov 2014

Light weight

Easy to operate

Suitable for all soil conditions

Easily available, low cost, durable

Easy delivery

Affordable

Progress in the development of the Rowcaster

SRI Equipment Workshop, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok 1-3 Nov 2014

FSR V1 FSR V2

FSR V3

FSR V3Front

and side markers

Earlier versionsFront /side markers

ROW MARKERS

Earlier versionsFront /side markers

FSR V3Front and side markers

SRI Equipment Workshop, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok 1-3 Nov 2014

FSR V4

FSR V3

SRI Equipment Workshop, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok 1-3 Nov 2014

Work in progress…..Thank you for listening

Supported by Malaysian Government Prototype Grant PRGS/1/12/STWN03/UKM/02/1

SRI Equipment Workshop, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok 1-3 Nov 2014