Farmers can save an average of P2,480 per hectare (ha) on the cost of seeding with the improved drum seeder, a lightweight and hand -pulled machine developed by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) for easy and efficient dispensing of rice seeds into the field.
This was found in the study led by Ronell Malasa of the PhilRice Socioeconomics Division that was conducted in Iloilo, Mindoro Oriental, and Nueva Ecija. The saving resulted from the immense reduction of seeding rate from 113 kg/ha in broadcast seeding to only 51 kg/ha in the drum seeding. The number of tillers also increased from 11 in broadcast seeding to 16 in drum seeding.
“This [finding], says Malasa, establishes the potential of the drum seeder to contribute in increasing yield, [for] the more tillers, the higher possibility of producing grains.”
IMPROVING THE DRUM SEEDERBased on earlier models, the drum seeder is originally developed by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). IRRI then introduced this to other countries including Vietnam that adopted the design with plastic drums.
PhilRice imported the Vietnamese brand, but it did not satisfy Filipino farmers for it did not completely meet their needs. Hence, its engineers and researchers worked together to improve the drum seeder.
“Since its introduction in the Philippines, PhilRice has made some modifications on the drum seeder based on the actual needs in the field,” said Leo Molinawe, co-designer of the plastic design of the Rice Engineering and Mechanization Division (REMD) of PhilRice.
One of the major problems then, added Engr. Eden Gagelonia who was one of the developers of the modified drum seeder of REMD, was “that row seedling with the seeder could not be easily done during the rainy season because rainfall displaced the rows of surfaced placed seeds. And because the seeds were placed in the soil surface, these were prone to bird and rat damage.”
So Gagelonia’s group improved the design for minimum rainfall displacement and pest damage. They attached two ground wheels at both ends to keep the rows straight and minimize slips. They added also a detachable furrow opener assembly to allow seed replacement in furrows, plus a slight soil cover to minimize damage by birds and rodents.
In 2007, PhilRice came up with a more portable and lighter model and thisis the improved drum seeder, which is made of lightweight tubing and polyethylene plastic. It has a series of perforated plastic cylinders or drums supported by two wheels, and furrowers and a soil cover. And “like the earlier models, the latest model reduces the seeding rate at 50 percent to 80 percent over broadcast seeding,” Molinawe said.
Moreover, unlike the past models, the latest model’s seeding rate can be adjusted from 20 kg/ha to 40 kg/ha to 60 kg/ha. One has just to place a rubber band over the perforations in each cylinder to regulate seeding rate.
USING THE DRUM SEEDERRogelio Badua of Brooke’s Point, Palawan attested that the improved drum seeder efficiently dispenses one to two seedlings per hill, and thus preventing seed wastage. He is also pleased with the straight plant rows, which resulted from the use of the drum seeder.
“With straight plant rows, other farm activities like weeding and fertilizer application become easy,” Badua said.
Lino Manigo of Calape, Bohol also uses the improved drum seeder to save on labor cost. The cost of labor hike during the planting season, but by using the drum seeder and a tractor, says Manigo, he doesn’t have to worry anymore about the cost.
The price of a drum seeder shouldn’t be worried about also. Considering the savings it brings and would bring, P5,500 is reasonable. Today, the drum seeder is being used in rainfed areas as well as in major rice-producing provinces, and 1,686 farmers have already bought it.
This was found in the study led by Ronell Malasa of the PhilRice Socioeconomics Division that was conducted in Iloilo, Mindoro Oriental, and Nueva Ecija. The saving resulted from the immense reduction of seeding rate from 113 kg/ha in broadcast seeding to only 51 kg/ha in the drum seeding. The number of tillers also increased from 11 in broadcast seeding to 16 in drum seeding.
“This [finding], says Malasa, establishes the potential of the drum seeder to contribute in increasing yield, [for] the more tillers, the higher possibility of producing grains.”
IMPROVING THE DRUM SEEDERBased on earlier models, the drum seeder is originally developed by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). IRRI then introduced this to other countries including Vietnam that adopted the design with plastic drums.
PhilRice imported the Vietnamese brand, but it did not satisfy Filipino farmers for it did not completely meet their needs. Hence, its engineers and researchers worked together to improve the drum seeder.
“Since its introduction in the Philippines, PhilRice has made some modifications on the drum seeder based on the actual needs in the field,” said Leo Molinawe, co-designer of the plastic design of the Rice Engineering and Mechanization Division (REMD) of PhilRice.
One of the major problems then, added Engr. Eden Gagelonia who was one of the developers of the modified drum seeder of REMD, was “that row seedling with the seeder could not be easily done during the rainy season because rainfall displaced the rows of surfaced placed seeds. And because the seeds were placed in the soil surface, these were prone to bird and rat damage.”
So Gagelonia’s group improved the design for minimum rainfall displacement and pest damage. They attached two ground wheels at both ends to keep the rows straight and minimize slips. They added also a detachable furrow opener assembly to allow seed replacement in furrows, plus a slight soil cover to minimize damage by birds and rodents.
In 2007, PhilRice came up with a more portable and lighter model and thisis the improved drum seeder, which is made of lightweight tubing and polyethylene plastic. It has a series of perforated plastic cylinders or drums supported by two wheels, and furrowers and a soil cover. And “like the earlier models, the latest model reduces the seeding rate at 50 percent to 80 percent over broadcast seeding,” Molinawe said.
Moreover, unlike the past models, the latest model’s seeding rate can be adjusted from 20 kg/ha to 40 kg/ha to 60 kg/ha. One has just to place a rubber band over the perforations in each cylinder to regulate seeding rate.
USING THE DRUM SEEDERRogelio Badua of Brooke’s Point, Palawan attested that the improved drum seeder efficiently dispenses one to two seedlings per hill, and thus preventing seed wastage. He is also pleased with the straight plant rows, which resulted from the use of the drum seeder.
“With straight plant rows, other farm activities like weeding and fertilizer application become easy,” Badua said.
Lino Manigo of Calape, Bohol also uses the improved drum seeder to save on labor cost. The cost of labor hike during the planting season, but by using the drum seeder and a tractor, says Manigo, he doesn’t have to worry anymore about the cost.
The price of a drum seeder shouldn’t be worried about also. Considering the savings it brings and would bring, P5,500 is reasonable. Today, the drum seeder is being used in rainfed areas as well as in major rice-producing provinces, and 1,686 farmers have already bought it.
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