Assessment of techno-economic feasibility of conservation agriculture planter for planting of soybean in south coastal region of Bangladesh

Mohammad Abdul Mottalib 1, *, Mohammad Ayub Hossain 2, Muhammad Arshadul Hoque 3, Mohammad Ataur Rahman 4, Arafat Ullah Khan 5, Noor Mohammod 6, A.K.M. Apel Mahmud 6 and Mohammad Monjurul Alam 7

1 Scientific Officer, Spices Research Center, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Shibganj, Bogura-5810, Bangladesh.
2 Director (Training & Communication Wing), Farm Machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering Division (FMPED), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh.
3 Senior Scientific Officer, Farm Machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering Division (FMPED), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh.
4 Scientific Officer, Farm Machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering Division (FMPED), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh.
5 Scientific Officer, Farm Machinery and Postharvest Technology Division (FMPHT), Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh.
6 Executive Engineer, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), Dhaka-1215, Bangladesh.
7 Professor, Department of Farm Power and Machinery (FPM), Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh.
 
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2024, 21(03), 203–218
Article DOI10.30574/wjarr.2024.21.3.0599
 
Publication history: 
Received on 13 January 2024; revised on 27 February 2024; accepted on 29 February 2024
 
Abstract: 
The aim of this article is to evaluate the economic viability of soybean cultivation using BARI developed conservation agriculture (CA) based seed planter. This machine was tested and evaluated for planting of soybean in the farmers’ fields at Charwapda village of Subornachar Upazila of Noakhali district during Rabi (Dry winter) season of 2018 and 2019. This study was designed in randomized block design with three treatments and four replications i.e. planting by reduced tillage (RT), conventional tillage and broadcasting method (CT) and dibbling method (DB). Results revealed that the planter effective field capacity and conventional tillage with power tiller (PT) for dry land preparation was found to be 0.078, and 0.033 hah-1, respectively. Less time (43%) required for planting by planter than PT. Costs saved by RT were 27 and 57%, respectively over CT and DB methods. Saving of fuel consumption was 10.00 Lha-1 and reduced carbon (20%) emission to the atmosphere. Significantly the highest economic return (MBCR) was obtained from RT (1.63) planted soybean followed by DB (1.29) and CT (1.16) methods. Considering 10% interest rate, the NPV of the investment were found positive (BDT 97783) as well as estimated IRR was as 34% (>bank interest rate 10%) which reveals the machine investment is considered financially viable. The break-even use and payback period of machine was assessed as 9.65 ha of land per year and 2.71 years, respectively. Therefore, CA seed planter machine may be recommended as profitable for soybean planting in the south coastal region in Bangladesh.
 
Keywords: 
BARI CA Seed Planter; South Coastal Region; Power Tiller; Soybean
 
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