Periodic weeding has been a major factor contributing to higher rice productivity under SRI. Weeding promotes healthy root growth and plant utilization of biomass, enhances soil aeration, and increases yields through more productive tillers, larger panicles, more grains per panicle, and increased grain weight. The KB weeder was modified from its original design by decreasing its length, increasing its angle, adding supports, and lengthening spikes to improve usability, strength, and soil mulching ability. Manufacturers in three districts of West Bengal can produce up to 300 weeders total. Weeders are quality controlled and sold through dealers to farmers, with positive farmer feedback on the weeder's efficiency and impact on increased rice yields.

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. Increased 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
1050 mm to 850mm to ensure
operational convenience
An extra support has been
provided at the point of bent
Angle increased to 160° for
better adaptability to persons
2 L-shaped support has been
of 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.
At present there are 22 dealers located at
Contai, Raiganj and Cooch Behar districts of
West Bengal.

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. Quality and Production

8. And in
Closing...
Farmer Speak…
“The KB Weeder cum Mulcher 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.

9. THANK YOU