Addressing agricultural labor shortages and rising cultivation expenses, modern farm mechanization is gaining ground among growers in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich district. An agro-tech firm headquartered in Bhagalpur, Bihar, has developed a specialized battery-operated manual power weeder tailored for small and marginal cultivators. The equipment provides targeted assistance for farmers cultivating vegetables and line-sown crops, easing the physically demanding tasks of inter-cultivation, weed removal, and earthing up around crop roots.
Technical Specifications and Battery Performance
The power weeder has been engineered in two distinct variants operating at 26 volts and 48 volts. The 48-volt edition incorporates a robust 12-ampere battery designed to sustain demanding field operations. According to company representative Pragyanshu Shukla, a single battery delivers uninterrupted running time of 1.5 to 2 hours per charging cycle. By utilizing a dual-battery setup, farmers can recharge one unit while operating the machine with the second, allowing continuous work across the entire day.
Versatile Attachments for Weeding and Earthing Up
To match varying field requirements, the machine supports interchangeable rotavator and ridger attachments. Narrow-spaced rows utilize a 7-inch rotavator for precision weed control, whereas crops planted at row spacings ranging from 8 inches to 20 inches or 2 feet accommodate an 18-inch rotavator. The mechanism allows multi-tasking during a single pass across the field: the front rotavator loosens the soil and clears weeds, while a rear-mounted ridger simultaneously banks up soil against the crop stalks.
Labor Cost Reduction and Field Efficiency
Conventional field preparation involving manual labor for weeding and earthing up in maize or commercial vegetable fields typically demands an expenditure of roughly 4,000 rupees to 5,000 rupees per acre. Operating this battery-powered unit lowers that outlay substantially, generating direct operational savings between 3,000 rupees and 3,500 rupees per acre. Additionally, the equipment completes the inter-row weeding and soil mounding of an entire one-acre plot within 1 to 2 days, cutting reliance on manual workforces.
Pricing, Subsidies, and Acquisition Channels
The retail market price for this power weeder stands at approximately 55,000 rupees. However, farmers purchasing the tool through the collaborative framework of DCL Trust Community Livelihood and the Udhyami Mahila FPO can access subsidy benefits, bringing the effective cost of the dual-battery package down to 45,000 rupees. Interested cultivators can obtain detailed technical guidance or procure the machine by approaching the TCL organization, or by contacting company representative Pragyanshu Shukla directly at 8052961935.
