Mechanization of Agriculture

Commenced from Industrial Revolution

• The Industrial Revolution, in modern history, [is] the process of change from an agrarian, handicraft economy to one dominated by industry and machine manufacture.

History

• Started in 18th century around England• Picked up in 19th century –adoptions of

steam engine started • In the United States mechanization of

agriculture began later than in Britain, but they introduced many imp agri-machines!

Players• - traction engine• - plough/plow made from steel which ploughed

deeper• - mechanical seed drill• - harvest machine• - threshing machine• - mechanical reaper• - pivot irrigation • and many more customized ones

Positives• Automation of work• Boon for time critical activities in farming• Farming became less labor intensive • Increase in produce , increased resource

utilization• Helped in feeding the ever growing population• Less dependence on the unpredictable nature

factors! (example-rain)• Employment generation in agri-machinery

industry

Concerns/negativesWhen mass production happened, new seeds came , new

fertlizers came!!• Loss of biodiversity• Degradation of soil quality• Soil erosion ( mixed views!)• Food toxicity (pesticide residues, metal flakes in hay

e.t.c)• Increase in input cost• pollution (through agrichemical build-ups and runoff, and

use of fossil fuels for agrichemical manufacture and for farm machinery and long-distance distribution).

• Mismanagements, lack of information, knowledge –led to many injuries, deaths and debts in farming

• Caused unemployment or underemployment • Exacerbated greater inequalities in society

Statistics• 1940 - One farmer supplied 10.7 persons in the United States and

abroad

• 1970's - No-tillage agriculture popularized 1970 - One farmer supplied 75.8 persons in the United States and abroad

number of farmers in California( one of the major producer of US) has decreased over the years from 85% to only 1-2% of the population in the last century.

final report on an FAO mechanization project in China cited a 90 % increase in yield on farmers' fields for a double cropped wheat/maize farming system

India1) Tractorisation displaced mainly bullock labour up to about 60% in some

situations, but its impact on man-power was much less, the displacement being less than 15%.

2)The gross income per hectare of an average tractor-owned house hold was 63% higher than that of a household using only bullock labour.

3)The gross income per hectare of tractor-using households as a group exceeded that of the bullock farms by 31%.

4)net return per hectare from mechanized farms having tubewellsand tractors and partially mechanized farms having only tubewell were 49% and

29% higher respectively than that from non-mechanized farms.

5)1/3rd of all reported work injuries relate to agriculture of the estimated 5.5 million serious accidents that occur annually in Indian agriculture, many are causeby unsafe operation of threshers and using tractors for road transport.

Case study-Africa• In Africa in the 1960s, '70s and early '80s, large

number of tractors were supplied as gifts from donors or on advantageous loan terms to developing countries. These public sector tractor-hire schemes collapsed

• Result –tractor graveyards of Africa

• Reason-chronic mismanagement, inefficiencies,distorted cost of capital wrt traditional power

Case study-Thailand• 1970s, several irrigation schemes were

constructed with World Bank assistance in drought-prone Northeast Thailand.

• Result-Investments in land development and irrigation facilities did not achieve their expected benefits

• Reason-lack of knowledge, manpower,farm power,post harvest facilities

Case study-Indonesia

• Replacing the cone-head nozzles of traditional knapsack sprayers with flat T-jet nozzles

• Result- farmers t cut the use of insecticides and fungicides for vegetables by 35% without affecting yields and quality.

• Reason –the modification was simple, effective and efficient –catered for everyday person

Things to take care of • Farmers should be able to make the right choice of technology at the

right price to increase agricultural productivity, provide food security and reduce post-harvest losses.

• Better management,Training, disseminating information on machine safety and national safety legislation can help to reduce accidents, injuries and disappointments

• Concept of moving from ME, BE in agri to Holistic engineering in farms

• The proper selection, utilization and management of farm power resources are crucial.

• In turn, increased output will augment the demand for better techniques and technologies to carry out crop husbandry, harvesting and post-harvest work - storage, drying and on-farm processing.

Possible solutions to some small farm problems in Asia

•Compact, light, low-powered, and multi-purpose machines•Locally-available materials must be incorporated in fabricating machines to reduce the manufacturingcosts.•Small-size tractors, mini-power tillers, and small farm equipment must meet the needs of small farmers.•Operator’s safety and comfort•Energy-efficient machines should be developed.

Bangladesh ,Compact, light, low-powered and multi-purpose -machines tractor and reduced till-drill ---------------------------------------------

Thank You

• Mechanization must be backed up by an efficient management system, from training of drivers and mechanics, to the supply of fuel, oil, and spare parts and provision of speedy repairs.

• Where farms are too small, systems of sharing services will be needed. In ecologically sensitive zones, the use of machinery must be combined with careful soil and water management to prevent erosion and to optimize water use.

• More attention will be needed to design of machinery for conditions in developing countries and especially the needs of smaller farmers.

• Studies were also conducted by several other• organisations & individuals on the impact of farm• mechanization on agricultural inputs & outputs. Almost• all such studies led to the following broad conclusions.• (i) That farm mechanization led to increase in inputs• on account of higher average cropping intensity• and larger area and increased productivity of farm• labour.• (ii) That farm mechanization increased agricultural• production and profitability on account of• timeliness of operation, better quality of work• done and more efficient utilization of inputs.• (iii) That farm mechanization increases on- farm• human labour marginally, whereas the increase• in off- farm labour such as industrial production• of tractors and ancillaries was much more.• (iv) That farm mechanization displaced animal power• to the extent of 50 to 100% but resulted in lesser• time for farm work.

. Subsidiary Employment per Hectare (Man-days)Tractor-owner Tractor-user Bullock-farm

• Family labour 17.6 33.7 48.6• Hired labour 11.6 10.1 7.0• Total labour 29.2 43.8 55.6• Source :NCAER (1980). Implications of Tractorization for Farm