Low-external Input Rice Production (IIRR): Seeds/seedlings/transplanting: A manually operated rice transplanter

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Low-external Input Rice Production (IIRR)

Seeds/seedlings/transplanting

		(introduction...)
		Managing traditional cultivars for optimum outputs
		Producing rice seeds in a farmer's field
		Determination of rice seed quality
		Rice seed dormancy
		Rice seed collection and handling
		Common botanicals and other materials in rice seed protection during storage
		On-farm grain storage
		Clonal propagation: a method of seed multiplication
		Raising seedlings by the wetbed method
		The dapog method of raising rice seedlings
		Line markers for rice transplanting
		Straight-row planting using the square and triple-row spacing
		A manually operated rice transplanter
		A drum seeder for direct seeding
		Inoculating rice seedlings with Azospirillum

A manually operated rice transplanter

The transplanter is applicable where:

1. Farm labor is becoming insufficient to:

· urban migration
· simultaneous planting time among many farmers in an area.

2. Farmers wish to cut down on transplanting costs

BASIC INFORMATION ON THE TRANSPLANTER:

1. Two people can transplant 1 hectare in about 3 days. (The two will alternately operate the machine and replace seedlings onto the tray.)

2. The rice seedlings are planted in rows (to facilitate other cultural management practices like weeding) and, therefore, there is no need to hire line markers.

3. The transplanter is relatively simple to operate and maintain and is made from locally available materials.

4. A unit costs about P4,500 (as of June 1990).

5. For efficient and effective use of the transplanter, minor modifications on the dapog or wetbed method of seedling preparation have to be made.

6. The transplanter owner can earn additional income by custom-hiring the machine.

A simplified cost comparison between manual transplanting and using the transplanter is shown below:

	Manual Transplanting	Transplanter
Labor requirement to transplant x 1 hectare	25 mandays (ma)	6 mandays (ma)
Estimated transplanting cost/ha/yr for 2 croppings*	(25 ma/cropping x 2 croppings x P50/md) + (P100 for line marking) = P2,600.00	(6 ma/cropping x 2croppings x P75/md) + (P900 depreciation cost) = P1800.00**

* Assuming P50/md for manual transplanting and P75/md for operator of transplanter.
** Assuming P4500 cost of transplanter and a lifespan of five (5) years. Note: Aside from the P800 savings on transplanting costs, the owner can custom-hire the unit to earn additional income.

For details and technical assistance, contact:

1. Agricultural Engineering Department IRRI, Los Baños Laguna, Philippines

2. Agricultural Mechanization Development Program CEAT, UP at Los Baños College, Laguna, Philippines