Hand-Push Multi-Crop Seeder

A hand-push multi-crop seeder is a single-row precision walk-behind implement used on small holdings, kitchen gardens and seedling-nursery blocks to place seed at controlled depth and inter-plant spacing without requiring a tractor or power tiller. It is the lowest-cost mechanised alternative to dibbling.

Function

A ground wheel rotates a seed plate or fluted roller in the seed hopper; the meter drops one seed at a time into a shoe-type furrow opener that cuts a shallow slit in the soil. A press wheel follows behind, closing the furrow and pressing the seed into contact with moist soil.

Design and specifications

Indian Krishi Vigyan Kendra and ICAR-CIAE Bhopal designs typically weigh 7-9 kg with overall dimensions near 90 x 29 x 29 cm. The CIAE anthropometric variant is recommended for women workers because of its lower draft and ergonomic handle height. A single seeder usually ships with 12-19 interchangeable plates for maize, okra, gourds, pulses and small vegetable seeds.

Operation

The cultivator walks the seeder along a marked row at a steady pace. Seed rate, plant spacing and sowing depth are set by selecting the correct plate, adjusting the gear ratio and changing the depth shoe. Compared with manual dibbling, throughput rises several-fold and inter-plant spacing becomes uniform.

Subsidy and adoption

The hand-push seeder is listed under SMAM and various state schemes targeted at smallholders and women farmers. Adoption is concentrated in homestead gardens, organic plots and KVK demonstration blocks, where tractor-drawn drills (Seed Drill, Twin Box Seed Drill) are impractical.

References

Hans Single Barrel Push Seeder. Hans Agro.
Manual Seeder Catalogue. AgriExpo.