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Impact of Farm Mechanization on Profitability and Labour Use for Wheat Cultivation in Northern Part of Bangladesh

M. S. Rahman
Scientific Officer
Agricultural Economics Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701

M. A. Monayem Miah
Senior Scientific Officer
Agricultural Economics Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701

Moniruzzaman
Senior Scientific Officer
Agricultural Economics Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701

Sahadat Hossain
Chief Scientific Officer
Agricultural Economics Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study is conducted in three northern districts of Bangladesh during the period of 2009-10 to find out the effect of mechanization on productivity and labour use in wheat cultivation. The findings revealed that the yield of wheat under mechanization (2.65 t/ha) is higher than that of traditional farms (2.57 t/ha). Total cost of production is significantly higher for traditional farms. Gross margin is found to be higher for mechanized farm (Tk. 14,168) compared to traditional farm (Tk. 10,102). Less number of labours per hectare is required to complete the production process by mechanized farm compared to traditional farm. Family labour is mostly affected by the mechanization. Animal power and output have positive effect on labour requirement, while power tiller and input costs have adverse effect on labour requirement for wheat cultivation. High price of power tiller parts is mentioned as a major problem of mechanization in the study areas.

Keywords: Farm Mechanization, Profitability, Wheat

Location: Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Dinajpur

Start Date: 00-00-2009

End Date: 00-00-2010

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Non-commodity: Constraints

Objectives:

i. To document the types of mechanization employed in wheat cultivation

ii. To find out the impact of farm mechanization on the profitability of wheat at farm level

iii. To assess the impact of farm mechanization on labour use in wheat cultivation

iv. To identify the problems of mechanization in the study areas.

Methodology:

Based on the highest wheat growing area and production in the northern districts namely Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Dinajpur are purposively selected for this study. A total of 150 samples taking 25 from each group of each location are selected randomly.This study is mainly based on primary data collected through sample survey. Regarding information of mechanization, Rao (1974) used data on the input of tractor power (tractor-hours) per farm. Thus, information on the use of tractor is gathered in the form of tractor-hour use per farm. Both animal power and labour is also measured in animal hour and labour hours (8 hours equivalent to 1 man-days) use per farm The costs incurred on inputs are measured in terms of the prices paid by respondents for each input. Tabular method of analysis is used to present the result of field survey and to determine the impact of farm mechanization on profitability and labour use for wheat production. Independent sample t-test was used to test the differences between the means of two groups. Multiple regression model is used to identify the factors effecting the labour requirement for wheat cultivation.

Source of Information: Annual Research Report, Agricultural Economics Division, BARI

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The total cost of production is Tk. 32,190 per hectare for traditional farms, while it is Tk. 29,468 per hectare for mechanized farm. The highest cost is incurred for human labour which is 33% and 29% of total cost for traditional and mechanized farm respectively. The average yield of wheat is found to be higher for mechanized farm (2.65 t/ha) compared to traditional farm (2.57 t/ha). The mean difference is only 80 kg/ha which is significant at 5% level. The mean difference of gross margin and rate of return (BCR) is significant at 1% level for mechanized farm in all areas respectively. On an average, gross margin is found to be Tk. 14,168 and Tk. 10,102 for mechanized and traditional farms respectively. The rate of return is found to be 1.48 and 1.31 for mechanized and traditional farm respectively. ‘T’ values are also computed to test the statistical significance of the differences in the mean human labour hours used for each operation. For plouging and threshing, the traditional farms use substantially more human labour hours per hectare (L/H) than the mechanized farms in all the selected areas. The mean difference is found to be 136 L/H which is significant at 1% level of significance. Family labour is mostly affected by the mechanization. Animal power and output have positive effect on labour requirement, while power tiller and input costs have adverse effect on labour requirement for wheat cultivation. High price of power tiller parts is mentioned as a major problem of mechanization in the study areas.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings