expert corner
AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION:
A necessity, not an option
The penetration of modernized techniques of farming and mechanization can help in
improving the agriculture practices besides boosting the livelihood of majority of rural
population dependent on it, writes Jay Singh, Managing Director, CLAAS Agricultural
Machinery
As the country awakens to the plight
of the Indian farmer, the swelling
population leads to a growing
concern to meet the demand for food
grains, the disturbing farmer suicides
and the reduction of population
engaged in the most crucial sector of
the Indian economy; the governing
bodies have undertaken several
reforms to ensure that the agriculture
sector thrives.
An important yet neglected aspect
of Indian agriculture is the
mechanization of the sector. While
other sectors grow through
continual adoption of more modern
technology and access to improved
production methods, the
mechanization levels in agriculture
have remained stagnant
technologically for almost 20 years.
This is not because modern
machines are not available, but
because the Indian farmer does not
have access to it. The Indian farmer
is vulnerable with limited
knowledge and the financial
capability to adopt machines that
enhance production.
Mechanization, which has
benefitted all other sectors, has
failed to reach the Indian farmer
with its full potential. Thus, today
we stand at a juncture where it has
become a necessity to modernize
agriculture through intensive
promotion of mechanization.
Mechanization can play a pivotal
role by effective time management,
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BioVoiceNews | November 2016
reduction in wastage, the cost of
production per acre and improved
operating efficiency through climate
controlled ergonomic operator
environment, thus leading to an
increase in revenues and much
needed improvement in the living
standards of the farmer community.
In recent years, mechanization has
also helped bring back rural youth
to this vocation which was
rampantly being abandoned by
them. Agricultural mechanization
has opened up avenues such as
alternate professions which have
resulted in increased profits and
over the years have developed into
lucrative business opportunities.
One such avenue is the
mushrooming of custom hiring
centers, which has resulted in an
entrepreneurial trend in the sector.
Moving beyond tractors
As the government looks at
doubling the income of farmers,
new and innovative ideas to achieve
this goal are constantly being
explored and the establishment of
custom hiring centers is one such
idea that has the potential to
contribute to this in a significant
manner. The custom hiring centers
in India have played a dual role in
improving the state of agriculture in
the country. Firstly, it has proved to
be a boon for the farmers with a
progressive mindset who are
increasingly exploring a variety of
farm machinery. It is also enabling
access of machines to smaller
farmers who may not have this
access otherwise owing to small
land holding or limited finance.
Secondly, this acts as the thread
which pulls back the rural youth to
its roots and encourages them to
adopt agriculture as their primary
profession and at the same time,
fulfill their dreams of becoming
entrepreneurs. These centers across
the country have also established