Mechanisation of agriculture - indian scenario

Agricultural mechanisation implies the use of various power sources and improved form tools and equipment, with a view to reduce the drudgery of the human beings and draught animals, enhance the cropping intensity, precision and timelines of efficiency of utilization of various crop inputs and reduce the losses at different stages of crop production. The end objective of farm mechanisation is to enhance the overall productivity and production with the lowest cost of production. Agricultural mechanisation is also an important input to agriculture for performing timely farm operations; reducing the cost of operation; maximizing the utilization efficiency of inputs, improving the quality of produce; reducing drudgery in form operations; improving the productivity of land & labour and for improving the dignity of labour. The present study examined the relevant background information on population dynamics, socio economic status, status and availability of form power and machinery and cropping intensity towards agricultural mechanisation in India and reveals the facts that the mechanisation technologies were first adopted by the large formers (over 10 ha form size) followed by medium scale formers (with 4 to 10 ha form size). The sale of tractors and power tillers in India has shown exponential increase over years. The combine share of agriculture workers and drought animals in total form power availability in India reduced from 60.8% in 1971-1972 to 10.10% in 2012-2013. The form power availability and productivity increased from 0.25 to 1.84 Kw/ha and from 0.52 to 1.92 t/ha, respectively over the years from 1971 to 2012. Therefore, India adopts a policy of selective mechanisation under diverse conditions, which makes the agriculture mechanisation a challenging task.