Stories
Agri Tips: Reduce Labor Costs With Battery-Operated Weeding Machine
- •An agro-tech firm in Bhagalpur has developed a battery-operated manual power weeder to make farming easy and cost-effective for small and marginal farmers.
- •The machine is available in 26-volt and 48-volt models, allowing farmers to attach a rotavator and ridger for weeding and earthing up crops.
- •A fully charged battery lasts for one and a half to two hours, and farmers can use a double battery setup for continuous long-term operation.
- •Using this power weeder helps farmers save up to 3,000 to 3,500 rupees per acre compared to traditional labor-intensive methods.
- •The market price of the machine is around 55,000 rupees, but it is available for about 45,000 rupees with subsidies through specific trusts and FPOs.
Key Questions Answered
The power weeder is available in 26-volt and 48-volt models, utilizing a 48-volt and 12-ampere battery. Fully charged, it can operate continuously for one and a half to two hours, and farmers can use a double-battery setup to charge one while using the other.
The market price of the power weeder is approximately 55,000 rupees. However, through purchases via the DCL Trust Community Livelihood and Udyami Mahila FPO, farmers can receive a subsidy, making the double-battery model available for about 45,000 rupees.
Traditional weeding and earthing up methods cost around 4,000 to 5,000 rupees per acre, but using the battery power weeder lets farmers save 3,000 to 3,500 rupees per acre. Completing the work on a one-acre field takes about one to two days.
