ACCELERATED FARM mechanization is an important ingredient of the strategy to accelerate growth rate in agriculture sector. Main constraints in increasing agricultural productivity are non-availability of farm machinery to the farmers at right time and at affordable prices. Agriculture mechanization in Pakistan is limited to tractorization with cultivator. Presently, available farm power is inadequate. The number of tractors in operations is around 400,000 resulting in per hectare horse power (hp) availability of 0.90 against the required power of 1.4 hp per hectare as per FAO recommendations. The number of additional tractors required to achieve this ratio is 185,000.
There are around 500 small and medium scale agricultural machinery units manufacturing farm implements/ machines for land development, seedbed preparation, seeding/planting, interculture, reapers, wheat threshers, maize shellers, sprayers and farm trolleys and meeting the country demand. Local farm machinery/implements manufacturing industry has been provided incentives of zero sales tax. The locally manufactured farm machinery/equipments lack standardization and quality. Standardization is required for use of right type material and ensuring inter-changeability of components and thus facilitates easy repair/maintenance of the products. The quality of locally produced farm machines is generally poor because of poor layout of workshops; lack of managerial, engineering and technical manpower; poor designs; improper manufacturing techniques; lack of availability of quality raw material, components such as gears, sprockets etc.; lack of finance and marketing skills; and non-awareness of manufacturers about standards, non-availability of standards in Urdu and their enforcement.
The set of implements that is required for enhancement of crop productivity is not being used mainly due to non-availability of appropriate agricultural machinery and implements at right time, thereby delaying farm operations (particularly at sowing and harvesting of crops); inefficient selection and use of agricultural machinery including implements, usually mismatching to the field application, lack of proper operation and maintenance of agricultural machines by the farmer or operator/driver; low purchasing power of farmers as farm machines are expensive and their use is seasonal with the exception of few implements for land development and seedbed preparation; and poor quality of repairs of tractors and farm implements at local workshops which are not adequately equipped and the mechanics are not well trained to provide quality services.
In order to effectively achieve the objectives of country's self-reliance through increased agricultural productivity under strategic framework, following is proposed:
Firstly, funding should be made for both on-going and new projects. In the first place, ongoing projects include (1) Improving Conventional Farming Practices through Provision of Farm Machinery to Farmers/service Providers. (2) Promotion of Paddy Harvesters and Dryers for Saving Post Harvest Losses Under Public Private Partnership. (3) Accelerated Agricultural Mechanization through provision of tractors to farmers. Similarly, those which are new projects include (1) Establishment of Raw Material Banks and Common Facilities Centres (2) Establish Agricultural Machinery Rental Centres.
Secondly, capacity building is of no less importance. There is need to impart formal training of operation of farm machines particularly on their proper use, maintenance and safety aspects be made obligatory through training schools/centres established both in public and private sector and they should impart training on self-finance basis.
Thirdly, institution building would serve as one of the founding stones in the proper farm mechanization. For this, it is a must to establish Centre of Excellence in the country. This centre may be located at a central place with sub-offices in all the four provinces. The centre apart from testing of local and imported farm machines and issuing test reports (mandatory at least for public sector purchase) should also interact with farmers, manufacturers, credit lending agencies and traders and provide them information/advise on efficient utilization of farm machinery. In the similar fashion, institution building also requires the upgradation/ strengthening of already existed tractor operators’ training schools.
Fourthly, financial and technical support has also its fundamental role to play in the uplift of mechanization in the farming sector. In this regard, it is suggested that local manufacturing facilities be upgraded.
The last but not least proposal focuses funding for study purposes: (1)study of the local farm machinery manufacturing industry, identify the issues of the industry with regard to quality manufacturing of farm machinery/equipments.(2) Agricultural machinery manufacturers database.
http://www.technologytimes.pk/mag/2011/jan11/supply/farm_mechanization.php
No comments:
Post a Comment