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Farm Machinery Need Assessment: a Participatory Approach

Md. Monjurul Alam
Department of Farm Power & Machinery, Bangladesh Agriculturat University, Mymensingh 2202.

Md. Sirajul Islan
ATTP, Proshika Dhaka.

Beraj Kumar Biswas
ATTP, Proshika, Dhaka.

Shyamol Bose
ATTP, Proshika, Dhaka.

Samir Ranjan Baral
Ecological Agriculture, Proshika, Dhaka.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A PRA study was conducted in eight sites in eight districts to identify the location specific appropriate agricultural machinery need of the farmers. A total of 102 PRA sessions were conducted involving 233 farmers (male and female) of different categories namely landless, tenant, marginal, medium and rich. The households of the PRA sites were mostly dependent on agricultural activities and farming income largely constituted by farm income. However, non -farm activities had a major share in constituting household income. According to the participant's preference ranking for present agricultural machinery use male farmers opinioned for Power tiller followed by Shallow tube well, Sprayer, Rice huller, Pedal thresher etc. In contrast, female farmers expressed their opinion in favour of threshing machines. In addition to presently used modern tools, equipment and machines male farmers demanded for Transplanter, Reaper, mechanical Thresher, Seed and fertilizer distributor, Drier, Push-pull weeder, Sprayer etc. In contrast, female farmers emphasized on major post-harvest processing machines such as Drier, mechanical Thresher and mechanical Winnower along with field machines such as Reaper, Push pull weeder, Seed-fertilizer distributor etc. On ground of strong demand form the farmers, appropriate action programmes must be waged to promote necessary technology and skill to have a positive impact on agricultural production and to alleviate livelihood of resource poor farmers.

Keywords: Farm machinery, PRA study, Farmers

Location: Thakurgaon, Bogra, Rajshahi, Sherpur, Hobiganj, Comilla, Barisal and Jessore Districts.

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Commodity: Performance evaluation

Objectives:

To undertake a PRA study involving farmers of different regions of Bangladesh.

Methodology:

Area and Target Group Selection: Eight dlstricts namely Thakurgaon, Bogra, Rajshahi, Sherpur, Hobiganj, Comilla, Barisal and Jessore were selected for the PRA study considering different regions of Bangladesh and the access of collaborating NGO (PROSHIKA) activities. Thirty farmers from two villages were selected for PRA at each study area consisting of fifteen farmers (ten males and five females) from each village. As a PRA norm the farmers were allowed to categorized them based on their socio-economic perception. The farmers characterized themselves as Landless, Tenant, Marginal, Medium and Rich based on their land holdings. A total of 102 PRA sessions were conducted during l0 January to 5 February 2002 and in total 233 farmers (49 Landless, 90 Tenant, 7l Marginal, 14 Medium and 9 Rich) participated in the PRA.

Use of PRA Tools: Ten PRA tools were selected and used in eight sites. They are as follows:

1. Transect walk, 2. Changing trend/timelines, 3. Preference ranking, 4. Semi-structured interview (SSI), 5. Focus group discussion (FGD)

A checklist was prepared for SSI. Pictures of different farm tools, equipment machines and techniques were used in different PRA sessions for greater understanding of the farmers participants. During preference ranking, farmers were properly briefed so that they could express their preference according to their future agricultural need. To express opinion, each farmer (male and female) had given freedom to choose three events according to the weight. The first selection got 3 points, second selection 2 points and the last selection I point. All the scores of male and female participants for each event were added separately and ranked accordingly.

Source of Information: IEB, Journal of Agricultural Engineering Division, Page: 172-181, Nov. 2002

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

* The adoption of modern crop varieties and production management have resulted in expansion of farm machines like PT, STW, push pull weeder, sprayer, pedal thresher and rice huller etc. in the study areas.

* The-farm households of the PRA sites had fair access to tilling of land either by owning or on hire of PT. In Hobiganj and comilla sites, farmers had limited access to tractors for land preparation.

* Irrigation of crops were found satisfactory in all study sites except in Sherpur and Barisal, where ground water level in dry season and salinity respectively were found major constrain$ for installation of STW, and thereby limit Boro rice cultivation.

* Regardless of gender, farmers identified five major areas of rice based cultivation such as transplanting, seed end fertilizer distribution, harvesting, threshing and winnowing where significant mechanical intervention are needed.

* Appropriate research programme need to be undertaken to adopt good quality, cheaper environment friendly machines for harvesting, threshing winnowing, seed-fertilizer distribution, weeding, crop protection etc. for rice, wheat, Potato and com.

Knowledge Management: Journal