Direct Seeding of Rice with Drum Seeder in Visakhapatnam District of North Coastal Zone of Andhra Pradesh

Abstract— Rice is the major predominant crop during Kharif in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh, cultivated in an area of 1,10,008 ha with a productivity of 2624 kg/ha. Farmers traditionally grow rice using methods involving high seed rates, close spacing, and late transplanting with over-aged seedlings—practices exacerbated by erratic rainfall and climate change. Scarcity of labor, escalating wages, and reduced labor efficiency are leading to low net returns. In this context, the DAATTC, Visakhapatnam, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, introduced the 'Drum Seeder' technology—a simple, labor-efficient method for direct seeding. This technology saves time and money, enabling harvest 7-10 days earlier than conventional transplanted rice. On-Farm Demonstrations (OFDs) were organized during Kharif 2021 and Rabi 2021-22 across 8 locations. Results showed that drum seeder technology recorded an 11.39% higher average grain yield (6245 kg/ha) compared to conventional transplanting (5604 kg/ha). The technology reduced the cost of cultivation by 9.35% (Rs. 4,850/ha), primarily through savings on nursery management and transplanting labor. Combined with a 7-10 day earlier harvest, this led to a 55.8% increase in net income (Rs. 40,430/ha vs. Rs. 25,950/ha) and a superior cost-benefit ratio (2.03 vs. 1.59). The study concludes that drum seeder technology is a viable, profitable, and labor-saving innovation for rice cultivation in the region.