Mandya: Mandya zilla panchayat CEO KR Nandini took part in a mechanised paddy planting demonstration at Holalu village, sending out a message that women too can efficiently handle modern agricultural machinery.The event, jointly organised by the zilla panchayat and the department of agriculture at the Daksha Machine Paddy Seedling Production Unit on Wednesday, aimed to encourage women farmers to adopt mechanisation. Through this initiative, the zilla panchayat and agriculture department aim to build the capacity of women’s SHGs to produce and supply high-quality seedlings suitable for mechanised planting, thereby supporting farmers across the district. Instilling confidence among womenSpeaking on the occasion, Nandini said her participation was intended to instil confidence among women and dispel the notion that they cannot operate machines or engage in mechanised farming practices.She urged members of women’s self-help groups (SHGs) present at the training to embrace modern methods, stressing that mechanisation would help them overcome labour shortages, reduce costs, and improve efficiency in paddy cultivation.She noted that timely transplantation is often affected due to the non-availability of agricultural labourers, leading to loss of yield. Mechanised methods, she added, can help farmers plant on time and achieve better results.As part of the programme, a one-day training session was held for SHG members registered under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). The training covered the preparation of single-eye sugarcane seedlings as well as machine-based paddy seedlings.
