Dr. R. T. Patil , Dr. R. T. Patil ,

Former Director, CIPHET, Ludhiana Former Director, CIPHET, Ludhiana

Fmr Vice President, ISAE, New DelhiFmr Vice President, ISAE, New Delhi

Why Agricultural Engineering is So

Important

Indian Agriculture-Challenges

• Diminishing profitability, • Higher uncertainties due to climate change• Reducing interest of rural youth to pursue

agriculture for livelihood. • Farmers are not receiving commensurate

benefits.

Emerging scenario is disturbing in terms of future food security and sustainability.

What is Needed

• Mechanization of farm operations, • Renewable energy harnessing • Protected cultivation technologies, • Land and water management • Agricultural processing • Resilient to climate change, • Overcome various biotic and abiotic

stresses More livelihood opportunities for farm holders

and other rural workers.

Farm MechanisationFarm Mechanisation

Farm mechanization is the solution to such problems as

• Labour shortage, • Low input use efficiency, • Improper input placement in soil,

Drudgery, • Untimeliness of farm operations, and

Climate change.

Renewable EnergyRenewable Energy

Solution to •Efficient utilization of biomass•Avoid air pollution due to burning•Rural industrialization•Quick clearance of land for next crop•Augment nations energy requirement•Utilization of fallow land for solar energy plant

Soil and Water ConservationSoil and Water Conservation

Solution to •Increased water efficiency through drip irrigation.•Water harnessing technologies for heavy rains in short time due to climate change•Estimate the precise water requirement and application schedules

Post Harvest Technologies Post Harvest Technologies

Scientific storage of food grainsTechnologies for

•Preharvest treatment•Harvesting at Maturity•Safe harvesting•Pre cooling & washing•Surface drying•Cool/cold storage•Safe transport•Safe handling•Value Addition to Main & Byproducts

District Level RequirementDistrict Level Requirement• Every district needs to have a team of three

agricultural engineers 1 each for; • Farm mechanization and energy

management, • Agro-processing and related aspects, • Efficient use of land and water resources.

To plan, implement the approved programmes and monitor them for their effectiveness, feedback, and fine-tuning.

• Interact with KVK, SAU, and ICAR institute in the region for latest knowledge inputs.

State Level InfrastructureState Level Infrastructure

Every State needs to have a Directorate of Agricultural Engineering

• to guide the district level units, gather grass root data, analyze, plan, implement, and monitor

• Directorate would interact with other functionaries at the State level, central level and their counterparts from other States.

States Having DirectoratesStates Having Directorates

Hightech Agriculture is Must and Hence Directorate of Agri Engineering in Each State

•Tamil Nadu•Madhya Pradesh

Example of MP State-Example of MP State-YantradootYantradoot

Yantradoot, in Madhya Pradesh would not have taken place without the Directorate of Agricultural Engineering in the State. Under the Yantradoot scheme, district level agricultural officers in Madhya Pradesh sought to demonstrate the use of farm implements to farmers in 25 villages spread across 25 districts in the state and make these implements available on hire by the farmers at nominal prices. As a result, farmers in these villages are now using modern farm tools for each stage in the production of their crops. Increased mechanisation has resulted in a 40 percent increase in the agricultural productivity of farmers because now their crops are being sown, irrigated, treated and harvested adequately and on time.

Example of TN StateExample of TN State

Tamil Nadu state Agricultural Engineering Department exists since 1980.Two posts of Chief Engineers reporting to Agricultural Production Commissioner. Circles are headed by Supt. EngineersDivisions headed by Exec. Engineers and Sub divisions by Asst. Exec. Engineers. Sections by Asst. Engineers

International ExperienceInternational ExperienceUS President Bill Clinton at one of the ASABE international convention said “We all are aware of the challenging task of the 21st century is feeding the growing world population. The agricultural engineers are fully trained to help us face this challenge. They have the skill and expertise for designing and implementing agricultural systems that can meet the food, fiber, and now fuel requirement for the generations to come at the sustaining level” as told by Harbans Lal

How to ApproachHow to Approach

•Develop a model presentation on profession of ag engineering-website

•Model department of ag engg structure•Case studies of progress of states with and without ag engg directorates

•Formation of teams with senior member as leader for each state and following up by ISAE

Future of the Country Lies in the Future of the Country Lies in the Hands of Agricultural EngineersHands of Agricultural Engineers

Thanks