Periodic weeding has been a major factor in increasing rice productivity under SRI methods. Weeding promotes healthy root growth and plant utilization of biomass, enhances soil aeration, and increases yields through more and larger tillers, panicles, and grains per panicle. The KB weeder design was improved by adding a U-shaped handle for better grip, decreasing the pipe length for ease of use, increasing the angle and adding supports for adaptability to different heights, and lengthening the spikes for better soil mulching. Manufacturers in West Bengal can produce up to 300 weeders total to provide SRI farmers with affordable and easy-to-use weeders. Quality control and a one-year warranty are used.

2. Advantages of weeding
Periodic management of weeds has
been one of the major factors
contributing towards the higher
productivity of paddy under SRI –
1. Promotes healthy growth of roots
and consequently the plant
2. Enhances the utilisation of biomass
3. Facilitates proper aeration in the
soil
4. Increase in yields as a result of
more productive tillers, large panicle
size, more number of grains per
panicle & increased grain weight

3. KB WEEDER
Handle bent in the form of cycle
A U-shaped bent has been
handle to provide better grip to
added to provide strength to the
the user.
handle
Length of the pipe decreased from
43 inches to 33 inches to ensure
operational convenience
An extra support has been
provided at the point of bent
Angle increased to 160° from 135°
for better adaptability to persons of
2 L-shaped support has been
different heights
provided at two sides
Length of the spikes increased
from 90 mm to 100 mm for better
mulching of soil

4. Manufacturing Units
To provide the SRI adopters with
easy to use, low cost weeder, IDEI has
identified and developed manufacturers
in West Bengal.
Contai Engineering Works in Contai,
East Midnapore has the capacity to
produce 100 weeders.
Jaber Engineering Works in Raiganj,
North Dinajpur has the capacity to
produce 100 weeders.
Modern Engineering works in
Coochbehar also has the capacity to
produce 100 weeders.

5. Supply Chain
The Weeders fabricated by the potential
manufacturers are then passed on to dealers for
sale in remote rural areas.
We are currently using the existing KB supply
chain for weeder marketing.

6. Quality and Production
Quality control during Production:
Strict quality control measures are taken at manufacturing unit
through Quality Assurance Manager
Plan:
Warranty of one year
Each weeder will have unique punch plate numbers
Weeders will be sold under the Brand name KB
Production:
Production just enough to meet IDEIs requirement of weeder
Interested organization can make a visit to the manufacturing units to
understand the process

7. And in
Closing...
Farmer Speak…
“The KB Weeder is an efficient device in its function and easy to
use so as to reduce the drudgery on labour. Adding organic matter
to the soil by mixing weeds with the soil has helped in increasing
the yield of rice. It is really wonderful and stirring to see such a
robust growth in rice”, says Asgar Ali, North Dinajpur, West
Bengal.
“I found that the stirring effect of the weeder has positive impact
on the grain yield. I also found that the weeder use has a sort of
earthing up effect and the plants produce new roots which
probably help in additional nutrient uptake. Today I am a happy
man as there is regular supply of rice for my family”, says a
cheerful Ramhari Panda, Contai, West Bengal.

8. THANK YOU