Punjab to have largest area under laser leveller

Punjab, known for highly mechanised agriculture, is set to achieve another landmark by having the largest area under laser leveller. The proposed technology adapted from the construction sector has proved as panacea for the agriculturists and it also helps in improving the depleting water table. Not only does the technology increase yield by 10-15 per cent, it also saves 30 per cent irrigation water, which ultimately leads to cut in diesel and electricity costs and also in manpower. The popularity of the machine can be ascertained from the fact that the state has more than 2,000 machines in operation. It has already covered 10 lakh acres under laser leveller and in this paddy season it is expecting to cover 6 lakh acres more. The land levelled with the help of laser machine needs to be done once every three years.

Normally, the laser land levellers are used to level construction sites, spread over a large area, in western countries. According to experts, initially the technology was deployed in 2007, when the state government provided 200 machines free of cost to the co-operative societies.

Punjab State Farmers’ Commission consultant P S Rangi said, “To improve water-use efficiency, the commission introduced laser levelling of fields, which saves 30 per cent irrigation water and increases the yield by 10-15 per cent. Buoyed by the response the state government took up the programme on a large scale, providing capital assistance of Rs. 1 lakh per laser leveller. By January 2010, capital assistance was sanctioned for about 1,400 laser levellers. Impressed by its performance a large number of farmers purchased the equipment at full cost. As a result, more than 2,000 machines are in operation in the state.”

He said the technology helped the farmer saving the input cost and at the same time helped increasing the yield. The technology came as a boon for the state as the water table had depleted to a great extent. Farmers also found the even surface enabled equal distribution of fertilisers and pesticides, thus reducing these inputs too. As a result, the number of laser land levellers has been steadily growing in the state.