RASSA Journal of Science for Society
Year : 2019, Volume : 1, Issue : 1and2
First page : ( 49) Last page : ( 53)
Print ISSN : 2582-2136.

Prospects and Strategies of Farm Mechanization in Hills of Uttarakhand for Enhancing Agricultural Production

Singh T. P.*

Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, College of Technology, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263145, U. S. Nagar, Uttarakhand, India

*Corresponding Author tpsingh_62@yahoo.co.in

Online published on 30 November, 2019.

Abstract

Mechanization is an essential requirement of modern agriculture as it helps in enhancing production and productivity of a farm by timely completion of critical operations, efficient use of inputs, reducing drudgery and increased cropping intensity. The mechanization has been limited to medium to large farmers in the plain regions whereas it is a dream for marginal and small holding farmers in the hilly area of the state. The average farm power availability in the country has increased from 0.25 kW/ha (1951)to about 2.02 kW/ha (2016) showing a quantum jump but far behind the level of developed countries of the world. Similarly, the overall mechanization in the country for various farm operations is about 40–45 per cent only as against 95 and 99 per cent for the developed nations namely the USA and France, respectively. The situation is grimmer as far as power availability is concerned for the hill state of Uttarakhand, where it is at less than half (1.05 kW/ha) of the national average. In order to increase the production and productivity of the hill agriculture, due attention is required to increase the farm power availability by establishing appropriate machinery banks in a cluster of villages with a technical backup of machinery experts. Also, promoting small tractors and power tillers in valley regions would improve the agricultural scenario in the state.

Top

Keywords

Hill farming, mechanization, power availability, land holding.

Top