The University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) has developed the country’s first multi-functional vegetable nursery transplanter (MFVNT) to help reduce production costs and increase agricultural productivity.
The new machine was demonstrated at an awareness event held at the Water Management Research Center (WMRC). The event was jointly organized by the Department of Irrigation & Drainage, the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, WMRC, and the Agricultural Mechanization Research Institute (AMRI) Multan under PARB Project (22-390).
The MFVNT is designed to perform multiple operations at the same time. It prepares two beds, places mulch and drip laterals, and transplants four rows of multiple vegetable crops in a single pass.
WMRC Director Dr. Muhammad Zaman said that mechanized transplanting plays an important role in efficient water management. He explained that uniform planting and proper spacing allow better irrigation scheduling, reduce water waste, and improve nutrient use.
He further added that such innovations are especially important in the context of climate change and water scarcity because they promote sustainable farming practices.
Dr. Muhammad Adnan Shahid, Chairman of Irrigation and Drainage, emphasized the need to adopt modern and efficient irrigation systems to address water scarcity challenges. He noted that bucket irrigation offers a low-cost and practical solution for small farmers by ensuring water reaches the root zone with minimal waste.
Former Vice Chancellor of Arid Agriculture University, Dr. Rai Niaz, said that smart drip irrigation uses sensors and automation to supply water according to crop needs. He added that smart gun irrigation ensures uniform water distribution over large areas.
According to him, these technologies help conserve water, increase productivity, and support sustainable agriculture.
Eng. Shehzad Ahmed, Additional Director General of AMRI Multan, said the transplanter was designed based on local field conditions and farmers’ needs. He stated that the technology would reduce operational costs, improve plant survival rates, and increase overall field efficiency.
Muhammad Sajjad, Deputy Director of the Vegetable Research Institute, pointed out that vegetable production in Pakistan largely depends on manual transplanting. He said the process is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and costly.
With rising labor shortages and increasing production costs, he said the MFVNT provides an efficient and cost-effective solution that can lower costs while improving vegetable quality.