Here's Everything You Should Know About Levels of Farm Mechanization

The use of machinery to replace human or animal labor, particularly in agriculture and industry, is known as mechanization. Mechanization is the process of minimizing or reducing labor content to maximize performance and efficiency. It highlights the application of a control system and instrumentation for automatic or semi-automatic production.

Mechanization is the use of machinery to assist human operators with the muscular demands of their jobs. It may also refer to the use of a machine to replace manual labor or animals. Automation is a step beyond mechanization.

FARM POWER AND MECHANIZATION SOURCES

Agricultural operations performed on a farm can be broadly classified as follows:

• Work such as seedbed preparation, cultivation, harvesting, and transportation, as well as
• Stationary tasks such as silage cutting, feed grinding, threshing, winnowing, and irrigation water lifting.

These operations are carried out using a variety of power sources, including humans, animals, stationary engines, tractors, power tillers, electricity, solar, and wind. The various types of power available for performing these operations are classified as follows:

• Human potential
• Animal strength
• Mechanical force
• Electrical energy
• Wind energy

1. Human Power

 All indications point to an increase in the number of agricultural laborers in the future, resulting in increased investment in labor-saving devices and mechanical power.

2. Labor (Human Energy) on Farms

In regions where traditional agriculture is practiced, labor is one of the most important sources of farm power. On small farms, the farmer and his family provide the majority of the labor. The hired laborers are only employed to meet peak and permanent labor requirements.

3. Animal Power

 Animal power is the most important source of power on farms worldwide, especially in developing countries. It is estimated that animals still provide nearly 80% of the total draught power used in agriculture around the world. Various animal sources include:

• Bullocks
• Buffaloes
• Camels
• Horses
• Donkeys
• mules
• Elephants

Also Read: Economic Potential of Small Farm Mechanization

4. Mechanical Power

Mechanical power which is available through tractors and stationary engines is the third most important source of farm power. The engine is a high-efficiency device that converts fuel into useful work. The efficiency of a diesel engine ranges between 32 and 38 percent, while that of a gasoline engine ranges between 25 and 32 percent. Diesel engines and tractors have grown in popularity in agricultural operations in recent years.

5. Electrical Power

Electricity is now a very important source of power on farms all over the world. With the expansion of various river valley projects and thermal stations, it is becoming increasingly available. Irrigation and domestic water supply are the two most common uses of electricity in rural areas. Aside from that, the use of electric power in the dairy industry, cold storage, fruit processing, and cattle feed grinding has skyrocketed.

6. Wind Power

Wind energy is not widely available for farm work. Windmills can be used to lift water where the wind velocity exceeds 32 km/h. The main reason for its low use is its uncertainty. It is one of the most affordable sources of farm power.

Mechanization 

AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION entails the design, manufacture, distribution, use, and maintenance of all agricultural tools, equipment, and machines.

FARM MECHANIZATION: is technically equivalent to agricultural mechanization, but only refers to activities that take place within the boundaries of the farm unit or at the farm unit level.

TRACTORIZATION: This term refers to the use of any size tractor in agricultural activities.

MOTORIZATION: the application of all types of mechanical motors or engines, regardless of energy source, to agricultural activities.

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS: These are devices that are attached to, pulled behind, pushed, or otherwise used in conjunction with a human, animal, or mechanical power source to carry out an agricultural operation.

AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY: this is a broad term that refers to tractors, combines, implements, machines, and any other device that is more sophisticated than hand tools and is powered by an animal or mechanically.

AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT: This category includes stationary mechanical devices such as irrigation pump sets.

Also Read: Modern farming practices: Organic Farming and farm mechanization