Direct Planting Machine imported from Brazil

[Chao Sinh]

Hi there,
I saw one article on the introduction of rice direct planting machines imported from Brazil in Cambodia http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2009060426284/Business/Plant...

I have some concerns and I would like to get data or information about the advantages and disadvantages of using this machine. Please provide your inputs and comments.

Thanks and best regards,

Sinh

[Trevor Cree]

Sinh,

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have some useful information on conservation agriculture and zero tillage which can be found via the following page on my www.agmachine.com website:

http://www.agmachine.com/conservation2.html

Dr Theo Freidrichs of FAO is a leading expert on conservation agriculture and he is a member of our Network. You should be able to find and contact him via our Members page. I know that he felt that the Vence Tudo machines from Brazil were relatively low cost and durable. I am not sure what machines have been imported by CIRAD/ Cambodia,

Regards,

Trevor.

[Jeff Esdaile]

Sinh, Trevor,
The Brazilian seed drills being sent to Cambodia are part of a CIRAD (French Agric. Foreign aid agency) project on upland crops, and direct seeded rice, using biomass crops in the rotation. The agronomist doing the work is Stephane Boulakia.
The machines are standard double disc units (I think the brand would be Semeato, Max, Baldan, or Fitarelli). They are all in the FAO database. Have a look at http://www.fao.org/ag/catd/index.jsp

[Trevor Cree]

Sinh,

I would be interested to hear what are your main concerns are about zero-tillage for rainfed upland rice? I would think that the technology can have some major benefits with regard to the reduction of soil erosion and the improvement of soil moisture holding capacity. My main concerns relate to the use of chemical herbicides to control weed growth and that as the years go by the range of chemicals required may increase as the predominant weed type changes. If it becomes too complicated then it will be difficult for farmers to adopt, there are pesticide health concerns, and the economics of higher pesticide use needs investigation. However, as Jeff says, this is a field trial and it is being undertaken with the assistance of CIRAD.

[Chao Sinh]

Hi Trevor,

My main concern is the ways farmers will use to fight against weeds and insects. Water management and IPM, of course, will help solve the problem BUT on-farm infrastructure in Cambodia is still weak and IPM is wider applied to other crops. Therefore the only way left after all is pesticides/insecticides/herbicides (the Ministry of Agriculture's strategy is to go for organic farming). The price per unit of planting machine (more than 10,000 USD) is another concern.

From my observation direct planting machines (locally made or imported from Thailand and Vietnam) are adopted for upland crops such as soybean and maize in Kampong Cham and Kampong Thom Provinces.

Anyway we will wait and see the results come out from CIRAD project.

Sinh

[Jeff Esdaile]

Chao,
I note you are from Phnom Penh. My advice is to contact Stephane Boulakia of CIRAD, and have a look at his field work. It is really first class. He is using the basic principles of biomass crops, that have been developed in South America (Rolf Derpsch et al) and it is working very well. Due to the very high mulch levels, there are practically no weeds (even no cyperus rotundus -nutsedge) and fertility is restored using legumes (principally Stylosanthes).
I know Stephane and have visited his field work several times.
Have a look and you will be convinced.
Also have a chat to Craig Meisner of CAVAC (Cambodian Agricultural Value Added Chain) program. Craig is based in the Ag. ministry in Phnom Penh.

[Chao Sinh]

Dear Jeff,
Thank you very much for the information. I will spend some time to visit them.
Do you any contact of Stephane Boulakia?
Sinh

[Jeff Esdaile]

Chao Sinh,
Stephane Boulakia can be contacted at 012-305-961.
I understand that a workshop on these seed drills is being held in Cambodia on 22 July.
I think the drills will be on display.
If you contact Stephane, he may send you an invitation.
JEFF ESDAILE