A STUDY ON EXTENT OF FARM MECHANIZATION IN NORTH BANK PLAINS ZONE OF ASSAM
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Date
2019-07
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AAU, Jorhat
Abstract
The study entitled as ‘A study on extent of farm mechanization in North Bank Plains Zone of Assam’ was conducted with the following objectives: 1. To determine the extent of farm mechanization across different farm size groups 2. To explore the impact of farm mechanization on the farm production across different farm size groups 3. To identify the factors influencing the extent of farm mechanization across different farm size groups 4. Find out the constraints faced by the farmers in mechanization across different farm size groups The present study was conducted in NBPZ of Assam. Sonitpur district and Udalguri district were selected randomly. Random sampling design was followed for selection of sub-divisions, ADO circles, AEA Elekas and villages for the study. A proportionate-cum-random sampling (probability proportionate to size) technique was followed for selection of 160 respondents which constituted the sample for the study. The head of each farm household was the respondent of the study. The major tool used for collection of primary data in the study was a pretested schedule by personal interview method. The study period was from February to April. All together 17 independent variables, viz., Age, Education level, Family type, Family size, Social participation, Occupational status, Degree of information exposure, Size of operational land holding, Working capital availability, Gross annual income, Risk orientation, Scientific orientation, Economic orientation, Innovativeness, Labour availability, Credit seeking behavior and Cropping intensity. Farm mechanization was the dependent variable considered in the study. The statistical tools used for analysis and interpretation of data included frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation and coefficient of variation. Findings revealed that Majority of the respondents (46.25%) belonged to the middle aged category with 21.25 per cent of respondents being illiterate. Majority of the respondents (72.50%) belonged to single family type, had small family size (67.57%), had small category of land holding size (38.75%), had medium social participation (46.25%) and medium gross annual income (71.26%). Likewise, majority of the respondents (45.63%) belonged to the medium credit seeking behavior category, medium degree of information exposure (60%), medium level of working capital availability (66.88%), medium level of risk orientation (51.87%), medium level of scientific orientation (60%), medium level of economic motivation (65.62%), medium level of taking credit (45.63%), low level of innovativeness (41.25%), medium level of cropping intensity (77.50%) and low level of labour availability (74.37%). As regards extent of farm mechanization, findings revealed that majority of marginal (64.86%), small(64.52%), medium(72%) and large(72.73%) farmers had
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medium level of farm mechanization. In Case of pooled sample majority (67.5%) of the
respondents had medium level of farm mechanization.
As regards impact of farm mechanization on farm production, four crops were
selected viz., rice, mustard, cauliflower and watermelon. Findings revealed that across
all farm categories the ‘t’ value was found to be significant at 0.01 and 0.05 level. So in
case of all farm categories farm mechanization showed significant impact on
productivity of rice, mustard, cauliflower and watermelon. In case of cropping intensity
also farm mechanization showed significant impact.
The result of correlation analysis revealed that out of 17 independent variables,
6, 8 and 8 independent variables significantly correlated with the extent of farm
mechanization of marginal, small and medium farmers respectively. In the pooled
sample, 11 independent variables had significantly correlated with the extent of farm
mechanization. Of these education level(r=0.573), social participation(r=0.442),
occupational status(r=0.367), working capital availability(r=-0.194), scientific
orientation(r=0.577), economic motivation(r=0.612), innovativeness(r=0.353) and
cropping intensity(r=0.635) had moderately strong coorelation with extent of farm
mechanization.
The result of regression analysis revealed that 3,3 and 4 independent variables
had positive significant contribution towards extent of farm mechanization of marginal,
small and medium farmers respectively. In case of pooled farmer respondents variables;
education level, occupational status, scientific orientation, economic motivation,
cropping intensity, social participation, working capital availability and innovativeness
had positive significant contribution towards extent of farm mechanization.
‘High initial cost’, ‘lack of finance’ and ‘lack of awareness about implements’
were faced by both marginal and small farmers as three most important constraints in
mechanization. ‘High fuel cost’, ‘high maintenance cost’ and ‘high initial cost’ were
faced by medium and large farmers as three most important constraints in
mechanization.