Drum seeders pick up the beat in Myanmar

More farmers are saying yes to drum seeders in Myanmar because they benefit from using less seeds and labor, as well as the ease drum seeders bring in operations such as weed control and pest management.

“The performance of the drum seeders is quite satisfactory and economically efficient,” says Dr. Tin Hla, national coordinator of the International Rice Research Institute’s (IRRI) office in Myanmar. This he reported after an intensive demonstration of Vietnamese plastic drum seeders in January in the townships of Hlegu, Taikkyi, and Htantapin in Yangon Division, and in Letpadan, Oakpho, Thayarwaddy, Minhla, and Pyay in West Bago Division in February.
IRRI has been working with the government of Myanmar in developing improved technologies to increase rice production. A memorandum of agreement was signed on 29 June 2006 between IRRI and Myanma Agriculture Service (MAS) to develop and promote technologies in rice production through the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) in Ayeyarwady, Bago, Yangon, Magway, Mandalay, and Sagaing divisions. An increase in rice production in Myanmar is needed to feed the country’s 56 million-and-growing population, and to earn extra income by exporting rice.

One of the IRRC technologies being promoted is the drum seeder. The IRRC Labor Productivity Work Group, led by weed scientists David Johnson with Joel Janiya, introduced the Vietnamese plastic rice drum seeders in the country. They are working actively with MAS work group leaders and regional extension staff in testing the machines with participating farmers. The first batch of 25 IRRC-funded Vietnamese drum seeders arrived in Myanmar on 29 November 2006 and a second batch of 30 seeders followed on 22 August 2007. Dr. Tin Hla is closely monitoring the project and facilitating increasing activity with MAS senior officials and is also involved in farmers’ training, field visits, and demonstrations.

With more farmers being satisfied with the drum seeders, the machines were thus widely distributed in the summer rice-growing season of 2008. “Compared with broadcasting, about 50–60% less rice seed is needed, there are savings in labor cost, and these machines are easier to use in operations such as weed control, pest management, interrow cultivation by a push weeder, and harvesting,” says Dr. Tin Hla.
Some of the farmers and private entrepreneurs (Myanma Rice Millers’ Association) expressed their willingness to use this plastic drum seeder in more areas in the near future. Moreover, there is a big potential for intensively using these seeders during the irrigated summer rice-growing season.

It is easier to use a push weeder when rice is sown in rows using a drum seeder.

Tin Hla (irri.mya@mptmail.net.mm) and Trina Mendoza (t.mendoza@cgiar.org)

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