September 19, 2011

Paddy Yield Increase

A number of farmers in the Tiruvannamalai District are now experimenting with an unconventional method of paddy cultivation. Early results report that conventional methods on a 10 acre farm which previously yielded 2.4 tonnes of paddy an acre are now producing 3.3 tonnes of paddy an acre.

This increase is a result of Tegra seedling technology developed and patented by Syngenta, a Swiss company with a model farm in Vandavasi, Tamil Nadu. In this process paddy seedlings are grown in a tray in a special media comprising straw, soil, nutrients etc. Thereafter the seedlings continue their growth in a nursery and are replanted after 15 days into the paddy field, with a special transplant machinery. Once transplanted the seedlings take root and begin to grow.







The technology costs Rs 75 a tray and an acre requires 70 trays. The cost includes Syngenta Company growing the paddy seedlings chosen by the farmer (or considered appropriate for the area). The Company then transplants the cultivated seedlings in the farmer's field with special machinery and thereafter offers counsel until harvest.

Officials at Syngenta have pointed out that their system is not the same as the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) as SRI is done manually while Tegra technology is done mechanically.

5 comments:

JJ said...

Very useful info and stats. Does the cost of 75 per tray include cost of the use of Tegra transplanting mechanisms?

Meenakshi Ammal said...

Hi JJ:

I am not too sure of the breakdown of the price. But there is lots of information on their website:
http://www.syngenta.com/country/in/en/Pages/home.aspx

The company seems very eager to please. So expect if several local growers were interested in learning more, they would be happy to send a representative along.

Anonymous said...

For good Quality Trays you can email to info@agricare.co.in

Unknown said...

This is paddy trans planter trays for good ..please give me prices and ather detail...my postal adress is prime lanka enterprises..27B1/2..hultsdrof street..colombo 12..sri lanka..email..prime lanka2@gmail.com or pathmasiri gamage 46 @gmail.com

Meenakshi Ammal said...

Hi for more information get in touch with the Snytega link in the posting.