LUDHIANA, 15 July 2025: In a major boost to mechanised agriculture in Punjab, the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has developed a tractor-operated mat-type nursery seeder that is transforming how paddy nurseries are raised across the state. Introduced in 2021, the innovation is fast gaining ground among progressive farmers.
Traditionally, preparing a mat-type nursery—essential for mechanical rice transplantation—was labour-intensive, time-consuming, and costly. However, the new machine streamlines all key tasks, including soil preparation, polythene sheet laying, seed sowing, and soil covering, into a single, seamless process.
Designed for use with a 40+ HP tractor, the machine can prepare transplanting mats for up to 150 acres per day, consuming only 4.65 litres of diesel per hour. According to field results, it offers cost savings of up to 68% and labour savings of over 93%, making it nearly 30 times more efficient than conventional nursery practices.
“This innovation is a game-changer for Punjab’s paddy growers,” said an official from PAU’s Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK). “It reduces drudgery, improves precision, and makes paddy cultivation economically viable, especially amid labour shortages.”
Farmers like Gurdeep Singh of Kot Fatuhi village in Hoshiarpur have witnessed the benefits first-hand. Using the machine across 300 acres in Kharif 2023, and later expanding to 500 acres in 2025, Singh was honoured with the CRI Pumps Award for Farm Mechanisation at PAU’s March 2025 Kisan Mela.
The nursery mats prepared by the seeder are uniform in thickness (24–27 mm), ensuring consistent plant growth. The machine, manufactured by Rajarh Agricultural Works, Mullanpur, is priced at ₹3.35 lakh, and is eligible for 40% government subsidy. So far, 28 machines have been sold across India, with growing interest in states beyond Punjab.
Encouraged by field demonstrations and PAU-KVK training programmes, more farmers are adopting the technology as part of the state’s broader effort to promote sustainable and precision agriculture.
