Variable cost analysis of different agricultural tractors
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Date
2007-07
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G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
Tractor power is major source of energy input in the farm mechanization. Improving the performance the agricultural tractor has gained a unique importance due to increasing cost of farm inputs and low prices received for agricultural produce. Study was conducted on the effect of power range and make of tractor on the maintenance, repair and fuel cost of tractor. Tractors were classified into three power ranges .i.e. 16-26 kW, 26-36 kW and 36-46 kW and in each power range four make (M1, M2, M3 and M4) were selected for study. The basic data for maintenance and repair cost analysis of tractors were collected from the University Farms, Crop Research Centre, Instructional Dairy Farm and the farms in the near by area of Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agricultural and Technology, Pantnagar. Field experiment was conducted to evaluate fuel and specific fuel consumption of various make and power range of tractors at Crop Research Centre, Pantnagar, during the year 2006-2007.
Variable cost in 16-26 kW tractors was Rs. 110.73, 114.46, 130.39 and 112.96 per hour for M1, M2, M3 and M4 make tractor respectively. Variable cost for 26-36 kW tractors was Rs. 146.29, 151, 170.89 and 176.89 per hour for M1, M2, M3 and M4 make tractor respectively. For 36-46 kW tractors variable cost was Rs. 197.22, 206.92, 217.19 and 270.72 per hour for M1, M2, M3 and M4 make tractor respectively. There was variation in maintenance, repair and fuel costs among the power ranges and make of tractors. Variable cost was minimum for M1 make tractors. Variable cost was maximum for M3 make tractors in 16-26 kW power range and it was maximum for M4 make tractors in 26-36 and 36-46 kW power ranges. Make of tractor and power have significant effect on specific fuel consumption. Variable cost and specific fuel consumption were increased with the power of tractor.
Based on the variable cost and specific fuel consumption it was concluded that M1 make tractors have least expenditure under variable costs as compared to other make of tractors during initial 4000 hours of work.
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