Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Researchand Devt Institute

Ngetta Zonal
Agricultural Research
and Development Institute
CATALOGUE FOR RICE LABOUR SAVING TECHNOLOGIES
Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute

Prelim Pages
II
© 2017 Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NGEZARDI)

NARO encourages institutions and organizations to translate, reproduce or adopt this publication.
Please send information on the translation, reproduction and adaptation of this publication to:
The Director of Research

(NGEZARDI)
P.O Box 52, Lira
Tel: 0473427748 / 0473660052
Email: ngettazardi@yahoo.com

III
Content Page
Unit One:
Land Preparation Methods ...................................................................... 1
Unit Two:
Cleaning Rice Seeds ................................................................................. 6
Unit Three:
Nursery Bed Management ....................................................................... 10
Unit Four:
Transplanting For Low Land And Dry Planting For Upland .................. 13
Unit Five:
Weed Management ................................................................................. 24
Unit Six:
Using Herbicide ........................................................................................ 28
Unit Seven:
Fertilizer application ................................................................................ 32
Unit Eight:
Harvesting ............................................................................................... 34
Unit Nine:
Drying Rice .............................................................................................. 36
Unit Ten:
Threshing ................................................................................................. 38
Unit Eleven:
Milling ..................................................................................................... 41

Prelim Pages
IV
Foreword
The challenge of addressing labour constraints in rural households has become even more urgent in many countries
in sub-Saharan Africa. The past decade has seen a significant reduction in the availability of farm power. Government
operated tractor hire schemes have floundered under the impact of structural adjustment and in many areas the stock
of draught animals has been decimated by disease and insurgencies. The continued availability of sufficient farm power,
especially ‘human muscle power’, is further depleted by a lack of interest in farming among the youth, who are seeking
alternative employment in urban areas. The productivity of the remaining labour-force is compromised by a lack of
physical energy and poor quality tools.
A wide range of technology options could help address some of the labour constraints in rice production: the promotion
of hydro power tiller in paddy land, power tillers in upland, use of improved nurseries, use of rice transplanting machines,
conical weeders, herbicides and soil cover would reduce the pressure from weeds.
This manual is for use by farmers and key stakeholders to guide them on how to use these technologies and the
costs involved.
Production of this manual was funded by Agricultural Technology Agribusiness and Advisory Services (ATAAS) Project,
through the Government of Uganda funded by the World Bank. We also acknowledge the contribution of the rice farmers
whom we interviewed in districts in the northern agro-ecological zone, Butaleja and Tororo Districts.

Prelim Pages
Acknowledgement
Financial support for this manual comes from the Agricultural Technology and Agribusiness Advisory Service programme
(ATAAS) a World Bank funded project and Government of Uganda (GoU).
The technical input of several individuals and institutions are gratefully acknowledged. In particular the Agricultural
Engineering Appropriate Technology Research center (AEATREC) of NARO played a major role in developing labour
saving equipment, Tilda (U) ltd and other companies for giving valuable information. The contribution of Ebong
Andrew, Tina Christine, Acipa Alexandrina, Evelyn Kasamba, Mukyala Cissy, Simon Epiku and Samson Ebong are
gratefully acknowledged.
This publication was developed by the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO)
Written and edited: Otim Godfrey Anyoni, Ebong Andrew

IEC Materials Consultant and Illustrator: Kasamba Salim
Design and layout: Real Concepts Ltd

Unit One: Land Preparation Methods
1 LAND PREPARATION METHODS
Mechanical Methods for Paddy Land

Hydro power tiller
Figure 1.1: A picture of a hydro power tiller
Land preparation of rice fields with deep mud and/or excessive water is a slow and costly operation when using
traditional tillage equipment as the equipment tends to get bogged down in these conditions.
Figure 1.2: A farmer using a hydro power tiller

2 The hydro power tiller was designed to overcome these problems. Under soft and average field conditions, the
hydro power tiller has a field capacity of 2ha/day. As a result of strong puddling action of the rotor, only 2 to 3
passes to accomplish land preparation are needed; whereas traditional tillage equipment requires 5 to 8 passes.
The cost of buying this machine UGX 15,300,000 (exchange rate of 1$ to UGX 3,400), September 2016.
COST COMPARISON OF USING HYDRO POWER TILLER ON OWNERSHIP BASIS FOR LAND PREPARATION
VERSUS MANUAL LAND PREPARATION.
MANUAL LAND PREPARATION MECHANICAL LAND PREPARATION
Items/activity Unit cost/ Unit cost/
Number of Sub Total Number of Sub
operation operation
operation/ha cost operation/ha total
(UGX) (UGX)
Machine
- - 2 8,625 17,250
Depreciation
First ploughing 1 200,000 200,000 1 - -
Second Ploughing 1 150,000 150,000 1 - -
Third Ploughing 1 100,000 100,000
Labour wage - - - 2 10,000 20,000
Repair/maintenance
cost (30% of fuel - - 2 5265 10,530
-
cost used)
Fuel - - - 2 17,550 35,100
Oil (oil cost
is covered in
- - - -
the repair and -
maintenance cost)
Land levelling 1 50,000 50,000 2 10,000 20,000
Total Cost 500,000 102,880
Data source: Tororo rice farmers and Doho rice scheme 2017.
NOTE
Hydro power tiller works well in water soaked fields.
It cannot be used in virgin land -land that has not been used before; has tree stumps, thick bush, rocky fields.
Hydro power tiller will need to be transported from one field to another.
Owning hydro power tiller reduces land preparation cost by 80%.

3
COST COMPARISON OF USING HYDRO POWER TILLER ON HIRING BASIS FOR LAND PREPARATION VERSUS
MANUAL LAND PREPARATION
MANUAL LAND PREPARATION MECHANICAL LAND PREPARATION
Number
Unit cost/ Sub Unit cost/
Number of of
Items/activity operation Total operation/ Sub total
operation/ha operation
(UGX) cost ha (UGX)
/ha
Machine
- - -
Depreciation
First ploughing 1 200,000 200,000 1 150,000 150,000
Second Ploughing 1 150,000 150,000 1 150,000 150,000
Third Ploughing 1 100,000 100,000 -
Labour wage - -
Repair cost - - -
Fuel - - -
Oil - - -
Land levelling 1 50,000 50,000 1 50,000 50,000
Transport - - 5,000 -
Total Cost 500,000 350,000
Advantages of using Hydro power tiller

It cuts the cost of land preparation from UGX 500,000/ha to UGX 350,000/ha (30% of land preparation
cost) on current hiring cost and UGX 500,000/ha to UGX 196,380 (60.7%) on ownership basis.
Saves time for land preparation by 33%
Fast and efficient (1–2 ha per day), uses less labour and ensures timely planting.
Reduces stress, work load, and health risks.
Ensures uniform crop establishment and maturity.
Seedlings recover fast, tiller vigorously, and mature uniformly.
It is able to work in deep mud and excessive water paddies
How to use the Hydro Power tiller machine

Refer to the operational manual that comes with the machine.
Limitation
It will only work in water saturated paddy fields
Requires separate mode of transportation when transferring from one field to another
Requires training &skills in operation and maintenance

4 Manual land Preparation for rice growing
Figure 1.3: A farmer digging
It costs 50 man days to do first weeding at a cost of UGX 5,000/man-day equivalent to UGX 250,000/ha.
Second weeding takes 20man-days/ha equivalent to UGX 100,000/ha. Therefore, land preparation may cost
approximately 500,000, twice the cost of weeding.
Mechanical methods for upland land preparation

The walking tractor and its implements for land preparation
Figure 1.4: Picture of a walking tractor

How it works 5
STEPS ILLUSTRATIONS
Step 1
Undergo proper training with an
instructor
Step 2
Choose the required implement
Step 3
Attach the implement to the tractor
with the connector
Step 4
Follow instructions in the manual that
comes with the machine

Unit Two: Seed preparation for sowing
2 CLEANING RICE SEEDS
1. Manual cleaning of rice seeds

Seed preparation for sowing involves the following steps
Step 1:
Remove the rice chaff and unfilled grains by direction of wind blow.
Step 2:
Pour the seeds and Wash the seeds with clean water 3-4 times to allow the
chaff from the bottom to float.
Step 3:
Remove the floating empty seeds or chaff.
Step 4:
Pour all the water and retain filled seeds only.

2. Mechanical methods of seed cleaning 7
The manual seed cleaner (Blower)

Feeding hopper
Blowing unit
Handle
Chaff outlet
Adjustable valve
Unclean rice Adjustable unit
Outlet for clean rice
Figure 1.1: Picture showing basic parts of a blower
This is a manual machine used for cleaning rice after threshing. It blows impurities out of the threshed rice.
What this blower does can be compared to manual winnowing.
How the seed cleaner (blower) works
STEPS ILLUSTRATIONS
Step 1:
Collect the threshed rice in a single place to
ease feeding of the machine.
Step 2:
Close the adjustable valve that is located inside,
at the bottom of the feeding hopper.

Step 3:
Load the rice into the feeding hopper.
Step 4:
Start the blower by continuously rotating the
handle of the blowing unit clockwise.
Step 5:
Open the adjustment unit slowly to release rice
towards the fan for blowing. Let the rice flow
down slowly.
Step 6:
Collect the clean rice from the clean rice outlet.
However, keep monitoring the quality of output
and controlling the valves appropriately.

Advantages of the blower 9
It is portable due to its light weight

It saves time compared to manual winnowing
Limitations of the blower

Lacks wheels to ease transportation from one garden to the other
Manual method of cleaning threshed rice

Winnowing rice manually is labour intensive and time consuming. Besides, it is gender insensitive in some
communities as the activity is left for women. The practice is also limited to small scale production of rice.

Unit Three: Nursery Bed Management
10
3 NURSERY BED MANAGEMENT
1. Modified Dapog method for raising seedlings for lowland rice
Table 1.1:Table showing steps for raising seedlings in the nursery

STEPS ILLUSTRATIONS
1) Materials needed to plant 1ha
a) 15-20 Kgs of inbred seed
b) 5-6 bags of rice hull 75 cm
c) 5-6 Bags of rice straw
d) 34 pieces of plastic nets measuring 150 cm long

and 75 cm wide. 150 cm
2) Prepare the seedbed measuring 25 M × 1 m ×
0.2 m high
Reminder: Make sure the seedbed is:

a) Near a water source
b) Has good drainage
c) Far from direct light
d) Protected from rats, birds, snails
e) Not shaded and flooded
3) Prepare rice seed as indicated above.
4) Make canals in between the seedbeds about

30cm wide;
5) Level the seedbed:
6) Cover the seedbed with rice hull evenly/

uniformly with a thickness of 3cm; Put the
paired plastic nets on top of the seedbed covered
with rice hull (this is done to avoid the roots
reaching the rice hull and for faster pulling and
hauling

11
7) Sow the rice seeds on top of the plastic nets at the

rate of 1kg per 0.75m × 1.5m net;
8) Cover the seeds with 2 -3cm thickness mulch or
rice straw as protection from direct sunlight, rain,
birds and rats(make sure that the rice straw does
not contain seeds to avoid off-types);
9) Irrigate the seedbed very well with sprinkler,

sprayer or fill the canals with irrigation water
twice a day (morning and afternoon); do this 1-4
days after sowing;
10) After 5days, remove the mulch or rice straw

slowly, then irrigate the seedbed with about
2-3cm standing water and maintain this level up
to 9days;
11) At 5 DAYS apply 1kg ammonium sulfate

fertilizer for every 10kg seeds(1:10) and then
immediately water the plants to avoid burning
of the seedlings specially when the weather is too
hot;

12
12) At 12-14 DAYS, the seedlings are ready for
transplanting;
a) Slowly separate the paired plastic nets
b) Step on the lower net with your feet and pull

the other net where the seedlings are attached
c) Distribute the seedling mats to the field where

they will be planted
d) Slowly pull the seedlings from the net and

distribute them to the field for transplanting at
a distance of 20 cm × 20 cm.
2. Wetbed method to raise seedlings for lowland Rice
Preparing the Nursery Bed

a) Prepare a fine seed bed measuring 1m width with a length of your choice and leave a space of at least 40cm between
beds for space during nursery management.
Level nursery bed with a stick Keep nursery bed 40cm from each other
b) Broadcast seed on the nursery bed at a rate of 1kg/ 20m2 area. Broadcast sparsely and evenly as shown in the figure
below. Remove mulching materials after about 4-5 days after sowing
c) Transplant healthy seedlings at 16-21days old. Do not keep seedlings in the nursery for too long. Irrigate thoroughly
before uprooting seedlings

Unit Four: Dry Planting For Upland And Transplanting For Low Land
TRANSPLANTING FOR LOW LAND

4 AND DRY PLANTING FOR UPLAND
Mechanical Rice Transplanting using a rice transplanting Machine
LOW LAND RICE
Machine transplanting involves planting young rice seedlings into puddled soil by machine.
Figure 4.1: Illustration of a rice transplanting machine. Closed shot of essential parts (planting claws, seedling trays and floating parts)
Advantages of Mechanical Rice transplanting

Fast and efficient (1–2 ha/d), uses less labour and ensures timely planting.
Reduces stress, work load, and health risks.
Ensures uniform spacing and plant density.
Seedlings recover fast, tiller vigorously, and mature uniformly.
Raising a nursery for using a transplanting machine

STEPS ILLUSTRATIONS
30 cm
60 cm
Step 1
Make wooden frames
60 cm
4 cm

14
Step 2:
Buy a polythene with a width of 1meter
and perforate using a pointed object like a
bicycle spoke.
Step 3:
Place the polythene down and the wooden
frame on top.
Step 4:
Fill the soil to the level of the thickness of
the wooden frame (4cm).
Step 5:
Plant by broadcasting on top.

15
Step 6:
Cover with grass to keep the birds off
Step 7:
Remove the grass after 5 days.
Step 8:
Remove the wooden frame
Step 9:
Seedlings are ready for transplanting from
14-18 days.

16
Step 10:
Place the nursery on the tray
Step 11:
Load the tray in the transplanter.
Step 12:
Load extra trays with seedlings on the
storage mesh surface.
How to use the rice transplanting Machine

1. Raise seedlings in special mat nurseries or in seedling trays. Use 18–25 kg of good seed per 100 m2 of
nursery for each hectare.
2. Seedlings will be ready for transplanting in 12–15 days after seeding (Days after sowing).
3. Ensure that fields are well puddled and levelled.

4. Drain fields and allow mud to settle for a day before transplanting. 17
5. The subsurface soil layers need to be hard enough to support the transplanting machine.
6. The soil is ready when a small “V” mark made in the puddled soil with a stick holds its shape. At
this moisture level, the soil can hold the seedlings upright.
7. Soil should not be so dry that it sticks to and interferes with planting parts or wheels of the transplanter.
8. Load the seedling mats on the machine and transplant the seedlings at the selected machine setting.
Disadvantages
Seedlings must be planted while still young, and so mechanical transplanting is best suited for
irrigated areas only.
Special nursery management is needed (mat nursery or seedling trays).
Good land preparation, leveling and water management are required.
Fields need good access for machine transport and field entry.
Transplanting machines are expensive; so poor farmers cannot afford them (contract hiring
of transplanters are highly encouraged).
Good training is needed to operate the machine properly.

18
Cost-benefit analysis of mechanical transplanting (comparing
Mechanical and Manual rice transplanting) per Hectares
Items/activity Manual Mechanical
Machine Depreciation 0 8,625 The cost of buying
Nursery management 10,000 25,000 this machine is UGX
Labour cost 200,000 10,000 15,300,000 (exchange
rate of 1$ to 3,400UGX)
Fuel 0 25,500 September 2016.
Oil 0 2,500
Transport 0 5,000
Total cost 210,000 76,125
The rice Drum seeder (Direct seeding)
Handle
Seed drums
Frame
{
Distance from
Wheel one drum to 10 cm
another is 20
cm Floaters
Figure 4.2: A drum seeder

How to use a drum seeder 19

Steps Illustration
Step 1:
Level the paddy field very well-there should be
no soil mounds or ditches after final leveling.
Step 2:
Pre-germinate the seeds that are to be used in
the drum seeder.
Step 3:
Air dry (under shade for 1-2 hours) the pre-
germinated seed before filling into the drum to
allow good separation.
Step 4:
Fill the seed drums up to ¾ to allow uniform
seed dropping. When the drum is completely
filled, seed will not drop out uniformly.

20
Step 5:
Use a rope to guide where the wheel is passing.
However, with experience a rope may be used
once for first line in which the wheels will be
moving.
Step 6:
Keep the birds off the field for 3-4 days.
Advantages
Simple and low cost.
It is easy to manage.
Portable and lightweight.
Versatile, can be used for other crops
Rice grains seeded in straight rows, allowing mechanical weeding between rows
Reduces seeding rate compared to broadcasting.
Saves on labour.
Uniformity in seed sowing and plant population.
One person can cover one ha per day.
Limitations
It should be operated in fields with saturated water.
Requires well levelled fields.

UPLAND RICE 21
Planting upland rice

a) Drill planting
5 cm
30 cm
Figure 4.3: A drill planter
How it works
Steps
a) The land to be planted must have fine soil particles.
b) Use 30 cm inter row spacing and 2cm intra row (50 kg/ha). Recommended for seed production
because off types are easily roughed out, weeding, fertilizer application, are easily done. Plant at a
depth of 3-4 cm. Plant early at the start of season.
c) Drop the seed continuously in the drill and cover with a thin layer of soil.

22
Figure 4.4: Photo showing farmers using forked hoes while Figure 4.5: A Photo showing the rice grains that have been
others plant and cover rice with soil. dropped in the depression created by the fork.
Figure 4.6: Accurate distance between lines Figure 4.7: Rice grows in proper lines
Using an upland ox drawn rice planter
Figure 4.8: Upland ox drawn rice planter
This planter is multipurpose and can cater for planting all grain crops. It is ox drawn and the different seed plates
are designed to drop seeds for different grains. Thus, these rice seed plates are selected and fixed by the farmer to
1
drop one seed per 2 a revolution or as otherwise set.
It has an adjustable groove that allows adjustment of seeds to be dropped at a time.
NOTE
The farmer must change seed plates for each grain type.

How it works 23
Steps 1:
Connect the chain to the ox
Steps 2:
Load the seeds into the seed feeder
Steps 3:
Mark the first line with a string
through which the wheels shall follow.
Steps 4:
Pull through the rest of the field as
another person guides the ox.
Limitations
Only works well when the land surface is well prepared.
Works only on upland.

Unit Five: Weed Management
24
5 WEED MANAGEMENT
Conical weeders
How to use a conical weeder

Step 1
Translate rice at spacing of 25x 25
cm at right angles (900). This ensures
that crops are in line in all directions
hence allowing operation of the conical
weeder.
Step 2:
Allow 2-5 cm of water in the field
for efficient operation of the conical
weeders
Step 3:
Weed east- west; north -south
direction for complete removal of
weeds.

25
Step 4:
While operating, move 2 steps forward
and one step backward.
Cost
Cost of conical weeder is approx.: UGX 200,000
Advantages
It can be fabricated locally
Simple to operate
Gender friendly

26 Limitations
Only useful in lowland irrigated or rain fed
Transplant spacing must be precise.
Land must be levelled.
Table 5.1:Table showing specifications of a conical weeder
Function For weeding in between rows of line sowing paddy crop

Power Manually Operated
Number of Operators One Person
Type of Operations Push-Pull Operation
Operating Conditions Water must be more in the field
Number of Rows Single Rows
Weight 6 kgs
Width of Operations 140-160 mm
Field Coverage 0.10 – 0.12 hectare / day of 8 hours of Operation
No. of Cones(rotors) 2 nos.
Cones Plastic Moulded with MS Blades
Blades 2 mm thickness, 6 numbers of plain blades, 6 numbers of serrated blades
Cone Holder 2 nos.
Float Assembly 1mm thickness Size : 320*120*65 mm. Float Angle 21 Degrees
Main Pipe : 20 mm dia. 18WSG Length:1200mm
Handle
Cross Bar : 25 mm dia. 18SWG Length:460mm
Production capacity 75,000 Nos. per annum
Area of coverage 0.15 ha/day
Saving in labour 50%
Saving in cost 40% of weeding
Cost-benefit of conical weeders

First weeding done one week after transplanting and blanket weeding. The task is 1000sq metres for UGX
10,000 meaning 10tasks per ha equivalent to UGX 100,000 per ha.
Second weeding done 3weeks after transplanting. This is mainly spot weeding because crop has established at
this time. It costs 6man-days per ha @ UGX 10,000/man-day equivalent to UGX 60,000/ha.
Current yield due to better weed control stands at 6.5t/ha from 3t/ha. Yield increment is due to better land
preparation and weed control.

Manual weeding 27
It costs 50 man days to do first weeding at a cost of UGX 5,000/man-day equivalent to UGX 250,000/ha.
Second weeding takes 20 man-days/ha equivalent to UGX 100,000/ha.
The walking tractor and its implements for weeding.
The weeder
How it works
Step 1:
Fix the rice weeder on the walking tractor using a
pin.
Step 2:
Follow instructions in the manual and the training acquired from an instructor

Unit Six: Using Herbicide
28
6 USING HERBICIDE
Two kinds of herbicides are being used
Pre-emergency and post-emergency herbicides.
In post-emergency Propanil are used.
In pre-emergency butacle is used.
Butachlor is used immediately after transplanting.
Propanil is used 3 weeks after transplanting.
Spot weeding is normally integrated with herbicide use. At least one spot weeding is done costing 10man-
days /ha at a cost of UGX10,000/man-day equivalent to UGX100,000/ha.
Herbicide application is costed 1 man-day using 8 pumps, each 16 litters for 1 ha at cost of UGX10,000.
COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF MANUAL WEEDING COMPARING WITH HERBICIDES AND

CONICAL WEEDER PER HECTARE
Using a conical
Items/activity Manual weeding Herbicides
weeder
Cost of herbicides - 100,000

Labour for spraying
- 10,000
herbicide
Spot weeding 50,000 100,000UGX
First weeding 250,000sh/ha. 100,000
Second weeding 100,000sh/ha. 60,000
Total cost 350,000sh/ha. 210,000 210,000 UGX
In large schemes, these costs are reduced by 2.

3

Calibration of a knapsack spray pump 29
This is important in order to apply the recommended rate with precision. It enables you to apply the correct
amount of herbicide. Usually recommendations are done in Liters/ha of herbicide, hence need to convert to ml/
spray pump.
STEPS IN CALIBRATION:
1. Obtain a knapsack spray pump and fill with water
2. Measure a line of 10metres
10
me
tre
s
3. Using a constant speed, spray height, and pressure spray
along the 10metres while being timed. Record the time
taken to spray along the 10metres (T). Measure the width of
the area sprayed (wetted area along the 10m). Calculate by
multiplying by 10m. Record this area (A).
1m
4. Using the time recorded (T). Spray into a measuring cylinder

at the same pressure used and measure the volume of water in
this measuring cylinder (V)
5. The measured volume of water V is equivalent to the amount of water used in A.

6. Assuming: V= 250ml and A=10m2 and recommended rate of application of herbicide is 4l/ha. This means
4l for 10,000m2.
7. In 10m2, 250 ml of water is required
8. 1 m2, 250/10 ml is required.
9. 1 ha requires 250/10* 10,000= 250,000ml. or 250l
10. Recommended rate is 4l/ha
11. This implies 4l of herbicide in 250litres of water (0.016l or 16ml in 1litre of water)
12. A pump of 20l requires 0.016 x 20= 0.32l or 320ml of herbicide.

30
HOW TO MIX CHEMICALS FOR KILLING WEEDS
Step 1
Follow instructions on the bottle and pour correct quantities of the
chemical into the pump.
Step 2
Use a cloth to sieve the water to prevent foreign matter that can block the
jet of the pump.
Step 3
Pour the recommended amount of water in to the knapsack spray pump.
Note:
The water to be mixed with herbicides must be near neutral (not acidic
or alkaline).
Step 4
Pump to accumulate pressure in the knapsack spray pump.
Step 5
Spray back in to the knapsack spray pump to allow proper mixing of
water and the chemical. Repeat until the chemical is thoroughly mixed
with water.

Before 31
After
Safe use of herbicides

Always dress in protective wear
Use concentrations and instructions as recommended by the manufacturer
Know the weed types in the field.
Rotate the herbicides to avoid weed resistance.

Unit Seven: Fertilizer application
32
7 FERTILIZER APPLICATION
The most common limiting nutrients for rice are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), sulphur (S), and
zinc (Zn).
Variety: Long duration varieties need more fertilizer than shorter duration varieties.
Soil: Light soils need more split application of N and K compared to heavy soils.
Fertilizer should be applied based on a soil test and desired yield. The farmer should strive to obtain a fertilizer
recommendation based on analysis of soil samples.
When a soil test is not possible, general recommendations can be a good guide to applying fertilizer based on
local recommendations.
Ways of applying fertilisers
Figure 1.1: Spraying (Micro Figure 1.2: Top dressing (Briquette Figure 1.3: Basal application, DAP
nutrients zn,B, mgso4) fertilizer, N) (Broadcasting uniformly)
P and K - Apply at final harrowing just before seeding.

N fertilizer- Nitrogen is the most limiting factor in rice production. However, in seed production judicial application
of N fertilizer is important since excess N facilitates vigorous plant growth that increases pests and diseases and
delays fruiting resulting in poor quality seed.
For every ton of yield required, 15-20 kg N is needed.
Use more splits for long duration rice varieties.
Apply the first top dressing at 21days after seeding, and just after first weeding.
Apply a second dressing at about panicle initiation between 45-50days after seeding.
Broadcast uniformly over the soil surface.
Don’t apply more than 30-35kg ha-1 in a single split to minimise loss.
Use a leaf colour chart to estimate N needs.

Unit Seven: Fertilizer application
Leaf Colour Chart (LCC) for Fertilizer N Management in Rice 33
The LCC is usually a plastic, ruler-shaped strip containing four or

more panels that range in colour from yellowish green to dark green.
4 3 2 1
How to use Leaf Colour Chart (LCC)

Randomly select at least 10 disease-free rice plants or hills in a field with uniform plant population.
Select the topmost fully expanded leaf from each hill or plant. Place the middle part of the leaf on a chart
and compare the leaf colour with the colour panels of the LCC. Do not detach or destroy the leaf.
Measure the leaf colour under the shade of your body, (direct sunlight affects leaf colour readings). If
possible, the same person should take LCC readings at the same time of the day every time.
When the colour of the leaf is below 3, apply N containing fertilizer.
Determine the average LCC reading

for the selected leaves.
4 3 2 1

Unit Eight: Harvesting
34
8 HARVESTING
Rice Reaper Machine
Figure 1.1: Figure 8.1: Parts of a motorised rice harvester.
How A rice harvester works
Figure 1.2: Figure 8.2: The machine cuts the rice using its sharp cutting edges as shown in the illustration

Unit Eight: Harvesting
35
Figure 1.3: The harvested rice is rotated to the machine and pilled at the side in a proper line.
Figure 1.4: Then people carry the cut rice to the destination for threshing.
Advantages
It saves time Limitation
It saves labour It may not be cost effective on small scale
It works in both low and upland

Unit Nine: Drying Rice
36
9 DRYING RICE
Rice Grain Dryers
Figure 1.1: Namulonge model Figure 1.2: Reversible Flatbed Dryer Alim Industries Ltd.
BSCIC Industrial Estate, Gotatikor,
Technical Details for a Reversible Flatbed Dryer
Model : AIL.480E
Engine Output : 1 HP
Fuel : Kerosene / Diesel
Dimension (L × H × W) mm : 3270 mm × 5281 mm × 1941 mm
Saftey Device : Air pressure switch
Hot Air Temperature : Ambient Temperature + 10oc ~ 30o C (Low heat)
Capacity : 500-600 kg (2 Hour) per batch
Fuel Consumed : 3.3 Liter (Per hour)
The Flatbed Dryer is a small capacity batch-in-bin dryer, designed for farm or village use.
How it works
STEPS ILLUSTRATIONS
Step 1
After winnowing, pour and spread the rice seeds in the
drying chamber.

Unit Nine: Drying Rice
37
Step 2
Turn on the machine.
Step 3
Use the spade to turn the rice grains from one side
to the other. If the drying chamber is full to capacity
(500-600 kg/2hr), turn the grains at an interval of 1
hour.
Step 4
Measure the moisture content to 10/9.9 using a
moisture meter.
Step 5
Pack the rice in well protected grain sacks.
Advantages
It’s simple to construct, easily available and easy to operate with unskilled labour.
Both direct and indirect heaters can be used with the flat-bed dryer.
It’s suitable for all kinds of seeds and foods, such as chili, beans, garlic, coffee bean, cassava, sesame, rapeseed,
paddy, wheat, corn, and sunflower seed.

Unit Ten: Threshing
38
10 THRESHING
A motorized rice thresher
Outlet for the rice straws
Feeding tray
Belt guard
Handles
Outlet for the

paddy rice
Fuel tank
Starter
Engine
Wheels
Figure 8.1: Parts of a motorized rice thresher
A thresher is a machine used for removing rice from straws of the rice plant. Its output is 600kg to 700 kg per hour
using a litre of fuel (source: Agricultural engineering and appropriate technology research center Namalere - Kawanda)
How a motorized rice thresher works
STEPS ILLUSTRATIONS
Step 1:
Cut and heap the rice in one
place

Unit Ten: Threshing
39
Step 2:
Position the machine where it is
convenient to access the rice for
loading.
Step 3:
Start the machine.
Step 4:
Feed the machine.
The machine shall beat its
maximum output capacity with
3 people providing labour; one
heaping rice, another feeding the
machine and the third collecting
threshed rice.

Unit Ten: Threshing
40
Step 5:
Collect the threshed rice from
the outlet for paddy rice.
Advantages
It is motorized
Wheels make it easy to move the machine from one place to another thus gender sensitive. Even women
can carry.
It is light in weight (80 kg)
Spare parts are cheap and readily available
Easy to maintain
Easy to operate
Limitations
Does not have a manual alternative in case there is no fuel. However, when the manual alternative was
developed between 1999-2000, the following limitations were realized:
1. Farmers complained of the machine being tiresome. The machines were abandoned and they
preferred manual beating
Figure 8.2: The manual versions of a rice thresher

Unit Twelve: Milling
11 MILLING
Separator, cleaner and milling/polishing rice machine

This machine separates dust, dirt, stones and other residue from rice. It produces final polished rice.
Figure 8.1: Parts of a 3 phase miller with a separator (Namulonge)
How it works
Figure 8.2: Illustration of a separator

42 Steps
Pour the threshed rice with chaff in the feeding hopper of the separator
The rice grains shall be separated from dirt, dust, stone and other residue
The fine grains shall be automatically poured into the feeding hopper of the miller
Collect the polished rice from the finished rice outlet
Advantages
It can be operated by one person
Saves labour and time
Limitations
Uses electricity
Combined rice mill
Feeding hopper
Controller
Rubber rollers (inside) Roller adjuster
Sieve for unpolished rice
Polishing chamber
Mortar
Outlet
for clean
polished rice
Figure 8.3: A rice milling machine
After cleaning rice from the blower, it is ready for milling. The machine uses rubber rollers to remove husks from
the rice grains.

43
Steps Illustration
Step 1
Close the controller
Step 2
Load the blown rice into the feeding hopper.
Step 3
Open the rubber rollers chamber to monitor the
operations of removing husks from the rice grain. Use
the roller adjuster to control the rubbers.
Step 4
Check and collect the polished clean rice from its
outlet. Stones are sorted through the stone outlet.
Stone outlet
Advantages
Combines milling, sieving and polishing of rice in a single phase
Limitations
No manual alternative in case there is no power.

Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Researchand Devt Institute

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© 2017 Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NGEZARDI)

The Director of Research

Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute

Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute

Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute

Written and edited: Otim Godfrey Anyoni, Ebong Andrew

Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute

1 LAND PREPARATION METHODS

Mechanical Methods for Paddy Land

Figure 1.1: A picture of a hydro power tiller

Figure 1.2: A farmer using a hydro power tiller

Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute

First ploughing 1 200,000 200,000 1 - -

Second Ploughing 1 150,000 150,000 1 - -

Third Ploughing 1 100,000 100,000

Labour wage - - - 2 10,000 20,000

Land levelling 1 50,000 50,000 2 10,000 20,000

Total Cost 500,000 102,880

 Hydro power tiller works well in water soaked fields.

 Owning hydro power tiller reduces land preparation cost by 80%.

Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute

Second Ploughing 1 150,000 150,000 1 150,000 150,000

Third Ploughing 1 100,000 100,000 -

Land levelling 1 50,000 50,000 1 50,000 50,000

Total Cost 500,000 350,000

Advantages of using Hydro power tiller

How to use the Hydro Power tiller machine

Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute

4 Manual land Preparation for rice growing

Figure 1.3: A farmer digging

Mechanical methods for upland land preparation

Figure 1.4: Picture of a walking tractor

Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute

Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute

2 CLEANING RICE SEEDS

1. Manual cleaning of rice seeds

Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute

2. Mechanical methods of seed cleaning 7

The manual seed cleaner (Blower)

Outlet for clean rice

Figure 1.1: Picture showing basic parts of a blower

How the seed cleaner (blower) works

Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute

Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute

 Advantages of the blower 9

 It is portable due to its light weight

 Limitations of the blower

Manual method of cleaning threshed rice

Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute

3 NURSERY BED MANAGEMENT

1. Modified Dapog method for raising seedlings for lowland rice

Table 1.1:Table showing steps for raising seedlings in the nursery

a) 15-20 Kgs of inbred seed

b) 5-6 bags of rice hull 75 cm

c) 5-6 Bags of rice straw

d) 34 pieces of plastic nets measuring 150 cm long

Reminder: Make sure the seedbed is:

3) Prepare rice seed as indicated above.

4) Make canals in between the seedbeds about

5) Level the seedbed:

6) Cover the seedbed with rice hull evenly/

Hydro power tiller works well in water soaked fields.

Owning hydro power tiller reduces land preparation cost by 80%.

Advantages of the blower 9

It is portable due to its light weight

Limitations of the blower

Two kinds of herbicides are being used

Pre-emergency and post-emergency herbicides.

In post-emergency Propanil are used.

In pre-emergency butacle is used.

Butachlor is used immediately after transplanting.

Propanil is used 3 weeks after transplanting.