Assessment of Cost Economics of Power Tiller Operated 2-row Vegetable Transplanter

Abstract

A 2-row vegetable transplanter was developed at Biswanath Chariali, Assam during 2023-2024 for 9.75 kW power tiller and the cost economics was assessed under actual field conditions at a forward speed of 0.9 Km/hr maintaining crop spacing of tomato (45×45 cm), brinjal (60×60 cm) and chili (45×45 cm). Average field capacity was 0.045 ha/hr for tomato and chili with field efficiency of 65.76 and 65.41%, respectively and for brinjal 0.06 ha/hr with field efficiency of 65.49%. Mechanical transplanting resulted in saving of 83-85% of productive time and 66-69% labour involved compared to conventional transplanting of bare root seedlings. Average transplanting rate was about 31 seedlings/min for the 45 cm within-row spacing, and 24 seedlings/min for the 60 cm within-row spacing. Percent missed plantings were 2.75, 1.19 and 2.63% for tomato, brinjal and chili seedlings, respectively. About 96% of tomato, 98% of brinjal and 93% of chili seedlings were planted in perfect upright orientation with no plant mortality. The average pay back period for the machine was 3.44 years (207 h) for annual use of 60 hours. The breakeven point was 38 h/year or 1.70 ha/year. The profit margin of the farm was more than that of the conventional manual transplanted farms when the sale price of tomato, brinjal and chili was more than ₹1282, ₹2215 and ₹2891 per quintal, respectively. Use of vegetable transplanter with plug seedlings is definitely profitable, and hence, is economically feasible in small and medium vegetable farms.