MULTAN: The Agriculture Mechanization Research Institute (AMRI) prepared modern wheat planter system to facilitate the peasants and help save million tonnes of wheat and improve economic uplift of farming community.
In the traditional style sowing, over 50 kilogram wheat seed is used in one acre, while the locally developed wheat planter uses four kilograms wheat seed only in one acre. This is a huge difference and it would help revolutionize wheat sector.
This was stated by Director AMRI Ghulam Siddique while talking to APP here on Sunday. He informed that AMRI used to work on reverse engineering with an aim to ensure early provision of cost effective machineries to local farmers.
About demonstration of machine, he said six acres of wheat had been sown in Tibba Sultanpur (Vehari) at farm of progressive farmer and the sowing remained highly successful. Highlighting the other advantages of wheat sowing by planter, he informed that it was highly beneficial as it ensures proper irrigation, air passage and provision of nutrients (fertilizers) for  the crop.
About cost on preparation of wheat planter, Â he stated AMRI prepared the machine with cost of Rs 150,000 only.
About AMRI, the director Ghulam Siddique maintained that it comprised of different sections i.e. design and development, fabrication, test and field research, agronomy, Â and instrumentation. The institute is providing industrial extension service to the local agricultural machinery manufacturers for production of standardized and quality machinery.
AMRI also imparts technical guidance to the farmers for proper selection, operation and maintenance of agricultural machinery and equipment. He informed that AMRI had developed over 125 cost effective agriculture machines so far since its inception from 1978. Out of locally developed over 125 machines, nearly 49 machines had become commercial, he said.
He further added that developed machines were identified as Seed Cleaner/Grader, Rabi Drill, Cultivator Drill, Dry sowing/Runner Drill, Rota Drill, Thresher, Wheat straw Chopper Drill, Rota Drill, Thresher, Mobile Bhoosa Baler, Seed Delinter, Seed Treater, Kharif Drill, Precision Planter, Cotton Ridge with Fertilizer, Bed and Furrow shaper planter, Rotary Slasher, Root Digger, Intercultural Toolbar, Sugarcane Ridger, Sugarcane planter, Stubble Shaver, Axial Flow Pump, Sprinkle Gun, Vegetable Ridger, Potato Planter, Rotary Potato Digger, Post hole digger, Fruit Picker, Potato Digger Shaker, Mango Hot water treatment plant, Vegetable nursery transplanter, Maize Sheller, Self Leveling Boom Sprayer, Orchard Sprayer, Fertilizer Broadcaster, Fodder Cutter, Fodder Chopper, Mango prouner and some others.
