Uneven Access to Modern Technology

Mechanization is another aspect with a significant impact on agricultural productivity. The use of agricultural machinery in agriculture enables agricultural labour to be used in other activities.

• It makes activities such as tilling, spreading of seeds and fertilizers and harvesting more efficient, so that the cost of inputs is offset. It can also make the use of labour in agriculture more cost-effective.
• The status of mechanisation in agriculture varies for different activities, although the overall level of mechanisation is still less than 50%, as compared to 90% in developed countries.
• The highest level of mechanisation (60%-70%) is observed in harvesting and threshing activities and irrigation (37%).
• The lowest level of mechanisation is found in seeding and planting. To increase productivity, farm equipment which is durable, light-weight and low cost, and also specific to different crops and regions should be made available for small and marginal farmers.
• Some challenges faced by farm mechanisation include different soil and climatic zones which require customised farm machinery, and small land holdings with lack of access to resources.

Mechanisation should aim to increase agricultural efficiency by reducing the time and labour requirement, minimising wastage and reducing costs of labour.