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Problems of Agricultural Mechanisation
Problems of Agricultural Mechanisation
Mechanisation
Land tenure system: The type of land tenure system (communal) does not
allow for large farm holdings suitable for mechanisation.
Scattered farm holdings: Scattered farm holdings are also not conducive or
economical for mechanisation, especially in West Africa.
Poverty of farmers: Most farmers, especially in West Africa are very poor
and cannot afford the cost of tractors and farm implements.
Varied soil types: Soil types are extremely varied and the machines to use on
them have not been developed locally. West African countries, Nigeria for
instance, still depend on imported machinery which is not too suitable for our
soil.
Problems of stumps and logs: During clearing, heavy stumps and logs are
usually left behind, and they constitute additional problems in mechanisation.
(i) High cost: Farm mechanisation, due to the numerous machines involved
usually expensive to operate.
(vi) Land tenure system: Land tenure system may hinder efficient use of
tractors due to small holdings of farmlands.
image source
(vii) Destruction of soil structure: The soil structure can easily be destroyed
due to continuous movements and usage of machines.
(viii) Redundancy of farm labour: With farm machines working on the farm,
the work can easily be completed and this situation can create redundancy in
farm labour.
(ix) Few crops can be mechanised: Very few crops like maize, rice, guinea
corn, millet, etc. can easily be mechanised.
Perhaps the most appropriate definition is that it is the process of improving farm
labour productivity through the use of agricultural machinery, implements and tools. It
involves the provision and use of all forms of power sources and mechanical
assistance to agriculture, from simple hand tools, to animal draught power (DAP), and
Human, animal and machine power can complement each other in the same
(FAO)
Sustainable mechanisation
Access to farm machinery is key for agricultural productivity and rural
livelihoods
The opportunity must be guided in a way that meets smallholder farmers'
needs and that does not require a Green-Revolution type of approach
with high levels of agrochemical inputs and destructive ploughing
operations that threaten soil health and fertility, according to FAO's new
report.
It extends far beyond ploughing and can contribute to productivity gains and new
jobs in the post-harvest, processing and marketing stages of local and global food
systems.
As things stand, two-thirds of the power used to prepare sub-Saharan African land
for farming is provided by human muscle. Comparable rates are 30 percent for
South Asia and even lower for Latin America.
According to Josef Kienzle, FAO expert and key author of the report,
mechanization allows smallholders both to intensify and expand agricultural
production as well as enabling some family members to seek off-farm jobs and
incomes.
As rural African youths increasingly migrate to urban centres, the region may face
labour shortages along with increasing demand for food to be sent to the cities.
Mechanization can help the often elderly or female farmers who remain in rural
areas to keep up with higher output needs, thus contributing to increased food
security and climate change mitigation.
"It allows for new and often better jobs in the servicing sector, such as for skilled
machinery managers, repair service providers, mechanics, dealers and spare part
supply centres," says Kienzle.
Future prospects
The goal, says Kienzle, is to reverse a vicious cycle in which low farmer income
leads to low potential for investments in seed, fertilizers and appropriate
machinery, leading to low yields and even lower income.
Successfully inverting the trend can improve farm family welfare and also facilitate
a response to the paradox that low demand for tractors also hinders the availability
of spare parts and even fuel, reducing the value of investing in mechanization
anyway. That shift must be driven by the demand of farmers.
Many past initiatives have failed, with subsidized or donated machinery ending up
as "orphans" due to the absence of spare parts or repair services. Many countries
today have graveyards full of tractors and their associated equipment that seemed
cheap at the outset but ended up being very expensive.
The report notes that major international suppliers of farm machinery now produce
cheaper and more suitable equipment in developing countries, while there are also
a number of evolving agricultural machinery companies from Argentina, Brazil,
China, India, Turkey and elsewhere - none yet from Africa - focusing on
technology transfer in the interests of smallholder farmers.
Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria are all actively studying Bangladesh's
experience in agricultural mechanization, which relies heavily on two-wheel single-
cylinder diesel tractors that can be adapted to power well pumps, river boats,
threshers, mills as well as producing crops. Farmers with access to appropriate
use of such smaller-horsepower tractors can operate them with planters that
deposit seeds directly into the soil with minimal disturbance, in line with zero
tillage or conservation agriculture regimes.
Sustainable intensification
EXAMPLES
CHAPTER 1: OF
APPROPRIATE
TECHNOLOGY IN
AGRICULTURE
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1.2EXAMPLES OF APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY IN
AGRICULTURE
For farmers in Africa, who have benifited much less from the GREEN REVOLUTION
than those in latin america and Asia, there are opportunities for reasearch into a
wider range of crops such as millet, legumes, and roots.
Other than harmful pesticide the other thing that destroyed or damaging the crops
are the natural predators like birds and small animal and insects that eats and
damage the crops
Chemical fertilizers are expensive as well as being bad for the environment.Organic
fertilizer from animal is much better
1.2.4 IRRIGATION
pros and cons of organic
fertilizer
fertilizer
pros
In addition to releasing nutrients, as organic fertilizers break down, they improve the
structure of the soil and increase its ability to hold water and nutrients.
Instead of large dams and irrigation schemes, more wells should be dug to give a
local supply of water that is reliable.
CONS
Nutrient ratios are often unknown, and the overall percentage is lower than chemical
fertilizers. However, some organic products are actually higher in certain nutrient
-Chemical fertilizers are primarily made from nonrenewable sources, including fossil
fuels.
-Because the nutrients are readily available, there is a danger of over fertilization.
This not only can kill plants but upset the entire ecosystem.
-Since nutrients are available to the plants immediately, improvement occurs in days.
-They are highly analyzed to produce the exact ratio of nutrients desired.
Before raising a crop, the soil in which it is to be grown is prepared by ploughing, levelling,
and manuring. Ploughing is the process of loosening and digging of soil using a plough. This
helps in proper aeration of the soil. After ploughing, the soil is distributed evenly and levelled
in the process called levelling. The soil is then manured.
1.3.2 Sowing
Selection of seeds of good quality crop strains is the primary stage of sowing. After the
preparation of soil, these seeds are dispersed in the field and this is called sowing. Sowing can
be done manually, by hand or by using seed drilling machines. Some crops like paddy are first
grown into seedlings in a small area and then transplanted to the main field.
1.3.3 Manuring
Crops need nutrients to grow and produce yield. Thus, the supply of nutrients at regular
intervals is necessary. Manuring is the step where nutritional supplements are provided and
these supplements may be natural (manure) or chemical compounds (fertilizers). Manure is the
decomposition product of plant and animal wastes. Fertilizers are chemical compounds
consisting of plant nutrients and are produced commercially. Apart from providing nutrients to
crop, manure replenishes soil fertility as well. Other methods for soil replenishment are
vermicompost, crop rotation, planting of leguminous plants.
1.3.4 Irrigation
Irrigation is the supply of water. Sources of water can be wells, ponds, lakes, canals, dams etc.
Over irrigation may lead to waterlogging and damage the crop. This frequency and interval
between successive irrigation need to be controlled.
1.3.5 Weeding
Weeds are unwanted plants which grow among crops. They are removed by using weedicides,
by manually pulling them with hands and some are removed during soil preparation.
1.3.6 Harvesting
Once the crop is matured, it is cut and gathered, this process is called harvesting. Followed by
harvesting, grains are separated from the chaff either by threshing, or manually in small scale
(winnowing).
1.3.7 Storage
Grains yielded are stored in granaries or bins at godowns for later use or marketing. Therefore,
methods of crop protection need to be better. In order to protect grains from pest and rodents-
cleaning, drying, fumigation, etc., are done prior to storing.
To know more about agriculture and its practices download BYJU’S-The Learning app.
[1]
Transformational leadership seeks to create a positive change in those who follow.
The leader enhances the morale, performance, and motivation of employees, inspires change
driven by a strong purpose, and is able to create a culture of trust and innovation within the
organization.
The following are some of the characteristics of transformational leaders.
Transformation is a process through which who we are, individually and organizationally, is changed
so deeply that the following are altered:
Our identity as an individual as well as a part of the organization. Our very way of perceiving,
thinking, reflecting, and making-meaning about ourselves and the organization shifts.
Our emotions become more alive and expressive. The range of feelings and our reactions to
the organization shifts.
Our place within the organization becomes clearer. Our relationship and connectedness to
and within the organization and how we show up shifts.
Our actions become more consistent and congruent with who we are and how we fit in the
organization. Our behaviors become more conscious thereby eliminating patterned responses
that no longer serve us.
Our creativity appears as we increase our capacity for responsiveness and ability to access
resources within ourselves as well as within the organization.
Our paradigms shift such that our overall perspective and mode of operating enable more
connectivity and congruence between individuals and the organization.
Transformative change embraces Gandhi's prophetic words that "we must be the change we want
to see happen in the world." The process of transformative change always mirrors what it seeks to
create. While honoring the lessons of the past and planning for the future, transformational change
has a strong focus on what's happening right now, in the present...the point of infinite possibilities.
For example, in individual change processes, while appreciating the impact of our past and
establishing goals for the future, the power of transformative change is in actually becoming the
fullness of who we are right here, right now. Or if we intend to create an organization culture to
meet the changing economy more effectively, we must "be the change" right now by initiating an
inclusive process of change.
The transformative change process leads to a capacity to more skillfully practice presence,
authenticity and interdependence throughout the organization. This is directly related to having
greater awareness, clarity, and comfort with what is happening within the organization.
Breakthroughs in ways of knowing, thinking, and accessing creativity increase as judgmental
constructs dissolve. Our character is impacted in a way that is observable, felt and experienced by
others. There is an increased ability to respond from a place of vision and compassion rather than
ego or self-interest.
Transformative change requires vision and a commitment to implementation that will be tested
through the crisis creating forces from the past to prevent the change. Once initiated, it is difficult
to erase the awareness of what could be. Yet, the results can be astounding as exemplified by the
transformative change of IBM led by Louis Gerstner in the 90's.
Agric 4.0
Agriculture 4.0 is a term for the next big trends facing the industry, including a greater
focus on precision agriculture, the internet of things (IoT) and the use of big data to
drive greater business efficiencies in the face of rising populations and climate change.
The reason is simple. Drip Irrigation not only delivers greater ROI compared to other of
irrigation methods, it also gives farmers an efficient and simple way to operate their farms.
Higher consistent quality yields
Huge water savings: no evaporation, no run off, no waste
100% land utilization - drip irrigates uniformly in any topography and soil type
Energy savings: drip irrigation works on low pressure
Efficient use of fertilizer and crop protection, with no leaching
Less dependency on weather, greater stability and lower risks
Just like people, plants like to get their water and nutrients in a balanced way. Nobody
wants to eat a month's worth of food in one day, and the same goes for plants. Which is
why drip irrigation applies water and nutrients frequently and in small doses, ensuring
optimal growing conditions that helps produce the highest yields possible.
By 2050, there’ll be 10 billion people living on our planet, and 20% less arable land per
person to grow enough calories. Include increasing water scarcity, and it’s clear why we
need a way to increase agricultural productivity and resource efficiency. That’s where drip
irrigation fits in, changing the economics of global agriculture by allowing farmers to
produce more calories per hectare and cubic meter of water.
Given that irrigated plots can more than double crop yields as compared to rainfed plots, the potential to achieve
food, water, and income security through small-scale irrigation remains untapped in many rural
communities. Drip irrigation in particular, which efficiently supplies a small amount of water directly to the
roots of plants, can play a key role in increasing crop yields and creating a sustainable source of income for
smallholder farmers.