Status of Mechanization of Small Farms in India

In indian agricultural , the energy use pattern has played dominant role in influencing the level of mechanization . Besides that the agro-climatic factors as well as the size of holdings do affect the degree of mechanization . Nearly 30 percent of total cultivated area is owned by l76 percent of the small and tiny land holders each owning even less than a hectare. On the other hand, about 2 percent of land owners cultivate land. These variabilitieshave greatly influenced the ownership of power sources on Indian farms. Small farmers, employ human and animal energies with the use of hand tools and animal drawn equipments. Whereases, the use of tractors, power tillers, electric motors, etc. on small farms is on a marginal scale. There are few pockets and also extensive wheat growing regions where mechanical and electrical power sources are extensively used in production agriculture leading to about 185% of cropping intensity . In that region, the animal energy is employed for on the farm transport of fertilizers, fodders and fuel to support milch animals and other household activities . Inspite of high degree of mechanization, the harvesting of crops is done by human labour with few exceptions of harvesting wheat crops by combines in few pockets. In overall assessment of mechanization, the following conclusions are drawn : ⅰ) Farm operation which show a growing trend of mechanization are (a) tillge, (b) seedling (c) Irrigation (d) Plant protection application (e) Threshing and (f) Transport . ⅱ) Crop cultivation system in respect of wheat, maize and sorghum have been greatly mechanized. ⅲ) The least mechanized cropping systems are (a) vegetable production and (b) cultivation of sugarcane, cotton, rice and pulses. ⅳ) Annual production of tractor has touched the figure of 280.000 by 1995 and the total number has crossed 1.5million on Indian farms.