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ABE001 - Module1 Introduction Students

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19 views

ABE001 - Module1 Introduction Students

Uploaded by

saripnorfaisalb11
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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ABE001 – Basic Farm Machineries and Mechanization

MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO BASIC FARM MACHINERIES AND


MECHANIZATION

A. Introduction
The country is faced with issues of poverty and food security. This implies the need
to sustain food production to satisfy the basic need of the growing population. A way to
achieve this is by increasing land and labor efficiency in agriculture through agricultural
mechanization.
Machines and equipment are major inputs to agriculture along with good seeds and
other cultural management practices. The use and application of these inputs to farm
production is one way of maximizing farm production and profit. Agricultural machines
help increase crop yield through better soil preparation, better irrigation, crop protection,
proper fertilizer management, and reduced postharvest losses. Moreover, machines help
address labor shortage during the peak of land preparation and harvesting.

Farm Mechanization and Farm Machinery


Farm machinery is the application, use, and management of various agricultural
machines, tools, and equipment used for production and post-production operation. Farm
mechanization is the development, manufacture and extension of appropriate agricultural
tools, implements, and machinery using animal, human, mechanical, electrical, and other
renewable sources of energy for agricultural production and development and postharvest
operations.
Improved irrigation facilities, introduction of high yielding varieties, use of higher
doses of fertilizers and pesticides have increased the scope for greater farm mechanization.
Farm mechanization helps for proper utilization of basic inputs like water, seed and
fertilizer, optimum placement of the seed and fertilizer, plowing, removal of weeds,
leveling of uneven land and land reclamation. If machines are used, the farmer and his
animals are relieved of hard work. With the support of machines farmer can do his job
better and quicker. He will have more leisure time and devote it to other tasks. He can earn
a better living.

A.1 Benefits of Agricultural Mechanization


Agricultural mechanization in the Philippines had a significant growth during the
era of the Green Revolution. Although the use of tools and equipment in farming operations
is independent of the kind of seed or crop variety, these machines have become necessary
components of the package of technology that also includes irrigation water, fertilizers,
pesticides, and management techniques.
1. Increased cropping intensity and production.
2. Increased productivity of labor
3. Full utilization of farm products and by products
4. Reduction of losses
5. Increased value added of farm products
6. Employment and livelihood generation
ABE001 – Basic Farm Machineries and Mechanization

A.2 Constraints in Farm Mechanization


1. Small land holdings
2. Less investing capacity of farmers
3. Adequate availability of draft animals
4. Lack of suitable farm machine for different operations
5. Lack of repair and servicing facilities for machines
6. Lack of trained man power
7. Lack of coordination between research organization and manufacturer
8. High cost of machines
9. Inadequate quality control of machine

A.3 Levels of Mechanization


The level of mechanization of various agricultural operations in the country can be
categorized into three major levels: low, intermediate, and high. Table 1 shows the
mechanization levels in various operations in crops such as rice and corn, sugarcane,
legumes and root crops, coconut, sugarcane, fruits, and fiber crops. Mechanization level in
the production of these crops is generally low, except for land preparation and
threshing/shelling operations in rice and corn.

Table 1. Mechanization levels in various operations of selected crops.


Vegetable,
Rice & Fiber
Operations Legumes & Coconut Sugarcane Fruits
Corn Crops
Root crops
Land Intermediate Intermediate
Low Low Low
Preparation to High to high
Planting/ Low to
Low Low Low Low Low
Transplanting intermediate
Crop care
Low Low Low Low to high Low Low
cultivation
Harvesting Low Low Low Low Low Low
Threshing/
Intermediate Low
Shelling/ Low
to high (legumes)
Dehusking
Cleaning Low
Low (legumes
Drying Low and root Low Low
crops)
Milling/ village
level High Low Low Low Low
processing

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