Status and Prospects of Farm Mechanization for Sustainable Agriculture
By S. P. Singh * and K. K. Singh | 03-08-2023 | Page: 35-47
Abstract
Farm mechanization affluences improved productivity and timeliness of agricultural operations, improves use efficiency of resources, enhances market access and contributes to mitigating climate related hazards. Farm power availability increased from 0.28 kW/ha in year 1960-61 to 2.761 kW/ ha in year 2020-21. Mechanical source of power is the main driver in this availability. The tractor population increased from 8000 imported units in year 1950 to 9.733 million in year 2022-23. There is increasing trend of 41-50hp tractors over 31-40hp tractors from 2014-15. A tractor covers 14 ha net sown area. The farm power availability in the year 2030 is estimated at 3.897 kW/ha. Overall farm mechanization is 55 per cent. To promote farm mechanization, Government provides subsidy to farmers as per their choice and need on 138 farm tools, implements and machines of various sources of power to farmers as per their choice and need. The variation of farm power in different areas of the country is due to availability of mechanical and electrical sources of power. About 17.63 per cent area has less than 1 kW/ha farm power availability. Special attention is needed for increasing mechanization of various farm operations in low mechanized area of the country either by tractor, power tiller, small electric (battery-assisted) prime mover or fossil based prime mover suitable for at least more than one farm operations. Electric (battery) powered machine does not emit any greenhouse gas emission. Smart farming is an emerging concept in the digital era that balances sustainable agriculture’s economic, environmental, and social dimensions. The commercialized technologies developed at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute have a great scope for sustainable agriculture.