BASIC FARM MACHINERIES AND MECHANIZATION

3 Mechanization and Farm Mechanization

Introduction

In the beginning, all crops for human sustenance were produced and prepared by the power of
human muscles. Many centuries passed before the power of animal muscles was used to relieve
that of the human being. With the discovery of iron, tools were fashioned that further reduced the
labor of human muscles. The transition from hand farming to this modern power-farming age was
at first slow, but with the development of the steel plow, the internal-combustion engine, the farm
tractor, and other modern farm machines, the movement has accelerated beyond the wildest dreams
of our ancestors. The changes which occurred in the past two decades have so tremendously
affected human values that one wonders what effect farm machines of the future will have on our
welfare. In fact, there has been more farming progress in the last hundred years than in all the
previous history of the world. It might be said that American farm production is almost totally
mechanized.

Farm equipment is being increased in size and efficiently so that farmers can produce more with
less labor and cost.

A key part of the technological revolution under way in agriculture, and largely a product of it, has
been the rapid increase in output per worker-hour of labor on farms. Output per worker-hour is
now the greatest in history. The period from 1945 to 1973 has had rapid progress in farm
mechanization and sharp increase in yields of crops and livestock because of widespread adoption
of improved framing practices. These changes have made possible a great rise in total farm output,
with fewer-hours spent at farm work.

Power Equipment Cuts Production Worker-Hours

The effect of the mechanization of agriculture is shown in the number of worker-hours required to
grow and harvest an acre of wheat yielding 20 bushels. In 1830, when grain was sown by hand
and harvested by hand with a cradle, 55.7 worker-hours were required. In 1896, with the use of a
horse-drawn drill and binder, 8.8 worker-hours were required, while in 1930, with the tractor-
drawn drill and combine, only 3.3 worker-hours were necessary.

What is Mechanization?

Mechanization is the use of machinery to replace human or animal labor, especially in agriculture
and industry. Mechanization is minimizing or reducing labor content so as to maximize
performance and economy. It spots the use of control system and instrumentation for automatic or
semi-automatic production.
 BASIC FARM MACHINERIES AND MECHANIZATION

It uses machinery that mathematically manipulates information storing, selecting, presenting and
recording input data or internally generated data as required. The quality of organization/usage
based on automation or mechanization is defined for its level, span and penetration.
Mechanization is providing human operators with machinery that assists them with the muscular
requirements of work. It can also refer to the use of machine to replace automatic labor or animals.
A step beyond mechanization is automation.

Even the use of hand powered tools is an example of mechanization as it reduces the work of
punching, screwing, drilling, or power washing a surface. This integration of machinery and
equipment into manufacturing process pass thru certain level.
Mechanization refers to that stage in the development of tools and machinery where the tool passes
from being an appendage of the laborer -> enhancing one or another of her own power -> to a
point where the machine controls the labor process -> whole process dominated by capacities of
machine.

Mechanization is characterized by the product of deadening uniformity and labor of an abstract,

repetitive and meaningless character.

Mechanization in any area is characterized into 3 levels, viz low, fair and high.

• Low Mechanization Level: manual power used exceeds 33%

• Fair Mechanization Level: animal power used is 34 – 100%
• High Mechanization Level: mechanical power used is 67 – 100%

https://ekendraonline.com/economics/mechanization-and-its-level/ 6.21.21

Scope Of Mechanization

It is quite true that the farmers of developing countries have the lowest earnings per capita because
of the low yield per hectare they get from their land holdings. One of the few important means of
increasing farm production per hectare is to mechanize it. Mechanization may have to be done at
various levels. Broadly, it can be done in three different ways:

1.) By introducing the improved agricultural implements on small size holdings to be operated
by bullocks

2.) By using the small tractors, tractor-drawn machines and power tillers on medium holdings
to supplement existing sources.

3.) By using the large size tractors and machines on the remaining holdings to supplement
animal power source.
 BASIC FARM MACHINERIES AND MECHANIZATION

As a matter of fact, the progress of the country should be mainly judged on the basis of degree of
farm mechanization (production per worker and the horsepower under his command per unit area).

Large amount of labour or draft power, which can be replaced through machines, provides a strong
incentive to mechanize.

What is Farm Mechanization?

Farm mechanization is the application of engineering and technology in agricultural

operations, to do a job in a better way to improve productivity. This includes development
application and management of all mechanical aids for field production, water control, material
handling, storing and processing. Mechanical aids include hand tools, animal drawn equipment,
power tillers, tractors, engines, electric motors, processing and hauling equipment.

Scope Of Farm Mechanization:

• Improved irrigation facility in the country

• Introduction of high yielding varieties of seeds
• Introduction of high dose of fertilizers and pesticides for different crops
• Introduction of new crops in different parts of the country
• Multiple cropping system and intensive cultivation followed in different parts of the
country.

Some Other Factors Which Are Responsible To Encourage Farm Mechanization Are:

• Population of the country is increasing; steps have to be taken to arrange food and fibre for
such large population by adopting intensive farming in the country. Intensive farming
requires machines on the farm.

• In multiple cropping programme, where high yielding variety of seeds are used, all farm
operations are required to be completed in limited time with economy and efficiency. This
is possible with the help of mechanization.

• Farm mechanization removes drudgery of labour to a great extent. A farmer has to walk
about 66 km on foot while ploughing 1 ha land once by bullocks with a country plough
having 15 cm furrow width.

• A large number of females and children work on farm. So, with mechanization females can
work at home and children go to school.
 BASIC FARM MACHINERIES AND MECHANIZATION

• The proper utilization of basic inputs like water, seeds and fertilizers will be possible with
proper equipment.

• There are certain operations which are rather difficult to be performed by animal power or
human labour such as:

a) Deep ploughing in case of deep rooted crops

b) Killing the pernicious weeds by deep tillage operations
c) Levelling of uneven land
d) Land reclamation
e) Application of insecticides during epidemic seasons. These operations need heavy
mechanical equipment

Benefits Of Farm Mechanization:

There are various benefits of farm mechanization:

• Timeliness of operation
• Precision of operation
• Improvement of work environment
• Enhancement of safety
• Reduction of drudgery of labour
• Reduction of loss of crops and food products
• Increased productivity of land
• Increased economic return to farmers
• Improved dignity of farmers
• Progress and prosperity in rural areas

Present Status Of Farm Mechanization:

Present status of farm mechanization is quite appreciating. We have:

• Improved manual tools

• Improved animal drawn implements
• Tractor operated implements
• Custom hiring units on the farm
• Other stationary equipments like threshers, irrigation pumps, sprayers, dusters etc.
 BASIC FARM MACHINERIES AND MECHANIZATION

Limiting Factors In Farm Mechanization:

There are various limitations in adopting farm mechanization:

• Small and fragmented land holdings

• Less investing capacity of farmers
• Agricultural labour is easily available
• Adequate draught animals are available in the country
• Lack of availability of suitable farm machines for different operations
• Lack of repair and servicing facilities for machines
• Lack of trained man power
• Lack of co-ordination between research organization and manufacturers
• High cost of machines
• Inadequate quality control of machines.

http://ecoursesonline.iasri.res.in/mod/page/view.php?id=125360 as of 6.21.21