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Rice transplanters key to commercial production
Vientiane province saw demonstrations of sit-down tractor rice transplanters designed for large scale commercial farming as well as increased efficiency and yields.
The machine is able to plant one hectare of rice every three hours using 6 litres of fuel compared with 40-45 people working for a whole day, the Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Extension Section Head, Mr Phouvong Bounsou, told Vientiane Times yesterday.
The hydraulic tractors need only one person to drive the vehicle and another to load the rice seedlings, he said.
In Vientiane province about 80 percent of farmers use tractors to plough their fields before planting but they would do well to buy rice transplanters and harvesters to improve efficiency.
Mr Phouvong admits the cost of the transplanters is high but insists the machines will return the cost in just a short time.
In attendance at the demonstration were many farmers excited by the new machinery and orders for the machines are expected to begin coming in.
The agriculture and forestry section is trying to encourage a shift from subsistence farming to commercial farming to boost output.
Using the machines will reduce the workload of farmers whilst increasing production and yields and will also save time.
One Vientiane farmer, Mr Loung Chan, said that in the wet season it cost him almost 10 million kip to hire a plough and plant seedlings on just 12,800 square metres of land.
Investing in a transplanter would cut labour costs and allow him to produce rice on a larger area of land.
He also plans to hire out his transplanter to neighbouring farmers to bring in extra income, he said.
Farmers who lack funds can buy smaller sized walking tractor rice transplanters - a cheaper alternative which requires only one operater.
The walking tractor has a capacity equal to 17 to 22 labourers per day (one day is considered to be from sunrise to sunset).
Walking tractor rice transplanters use 4 litres of fuel to plant one hectare of rice and the number of seedlings planted in each hole can be changed from three to eight as necessary, according to a Vientiane tractor seller.
Rice transplanters are so far seeing slow sales as farmers are waiting to see the yields obtained on farms where the equipment is already in use.
Vientiane Times
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