Energy efficient farm mechanization for small and marginal farmers

Abstract

Rice is one of the important crops and staple food for millions of people in India and world. In India, it is cultivated in 45.07 million ha which is largest area under rice cultivation in the world. However, the productivity of rice in India is less in comparison to Egypt and China. Rice crop is cultivated by conventional practices in India. These practices require high inputs which adversely affects the natural resources i.e. soil, water and climate in the form of soil degradation, ground water depletion and air pollution. Rice farming is negatively affected by these environmental degenerative factors. The development and adoption of new technologies are imperative to reduce these environmental degenerative factors of rice farming. These technologies enhance the production by efficient and precise application of inputs such as seed, fertilizer, chemicals and irrigation water. It ultimately lowers the cost of production. The aim of this paper is to provide information about available improved machineries and technologies for pre-harvest operations of rice crop. The high capacity machinery such as rice transplanters, combines, etc are to be used on custom hiring and for contractual field operations. There is a need for assured mechanised services to farmers and guaranteed business to service providers for paddy nursery raising, mechanised transplanting and combine harvesting.