The document discusses the role of agricultural mechanization, highlighting its purpose to reduce human and animal drudgery while enhancing productivity and cropping intensity. It emphasizes that mechanization can positively affect agricultural production in India, depending on other input factors, while also impacting employment by increasing demand for labor in various agricultural operations. The benefits include improved productivity, profitability, and efficiency in farming, although it raises concerns regarding displacement of traditional labor.

1. Role of Mechanization
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING AND
TECHNOLOGY,
DR. PANJABRAO DESHMUKH KRISHI VIDYAPEETH,
AKOLA 444104

2. Introduction
Agricultural mechanization implies the use of various power
sources and improved farm tools and equipement , with a view to
reduce the drudgery of the human being and animals , enhance the
cropping intensity . The end objective of farm mechanization is to
enhance the overall productivity and production with lowest cost of
production .

3. Impact of mechanization on agricultural
production and productivity :
Farm mechanization is regarded as necessary
condition to reduce the human drudgery and enhance the
agricultural productivity. During the post-green revolution period, the
impact of farm mechanization on agricultural production and
productivity has been well recognised in India. Depending upon the
use of other inputs such as irrigation, high yielding seed varieties,
chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, different States in
India have attained different levels of mechanization.

4. Mechanisation may not increase productivity
of land. In India, the crucial problem is to
increase the productivity of land, because
land is a scarce resource of the country. The
increase in the productivity of land is much
more important than the increase in the
productivity of labour In a country like Japan,
where mechanisation of farming is not
adopted, productivity per hectare has been
maximised because of intensive cultivation.

5. IMPACT OF MECHANIZATION ON
EMPLOYMENT OF HUMAN LABOUR :
The impact of farm mechanization on labour
employment, particularly in a labour surplus country like India, has
been a matter of concern and debate. The available evidences
suggest that mechanization had helped in overall increase in
employment of human labour. It depends on size of farm , types of
cultivated crops , type of labours( casual agricultural labourers and
cash wage permanent farm servants ).

6. Different studies conducted on farm mechanization indicated that
net human labour displacement in agricultural operations was not
significant and it was more than compensated by increased demand
for human labour due to multiple cropping, greater intensity of
cultivation and higher yields. On the other hand, the demand for
non-farm labour for manufacture, services, distribution, repair and
maintenance as well as other complementary functions increased
substantially and helped in relieving rural unemployment to some
extent. Mechanization in agriculture provided indirect employment to
skilled and unskilled persons engaged in operation, repair and
maintenance of prime movers and farm equipment.

7. Benefits :
(i) Farm mechanization led to increase in inputs
on account of higher average cropping intensity
and larger area and increased productivity of farm
labour.
(ii)Farm mechanization increased agricultural
production and profitability on account of
timeliness of operation, better quality of work
done and more efficient utilization of inputs.
(iii)Farm mechanization increases on- farm
human labour marginally, whereas the increase
in off- farm labour such as industrial production
of tractors and ancillaries was much more.
(iv)Farm mechanization displaced animal power
to the extent of 50 to 100% but resulted in lesser
time for farm work.

8. (v) It modifies social structure in rural
areas .

9. Thank you