Knowledge in Farming
Components of farming system.
Brief knowledge about basic components of farming system
shivani dimri
FARM MECHANIZATION
Mechanized agriculture is the process of using agricultural machinery to mechanize the work of agriculture, greatly increasing farm worker productivity. The effective mechanization contributes to increase production in two major ways: firstly the timeliness of operation and secondly the good quality of work. The requirement of power for certain operations like seedbed preparation, cultivation and harvesting becomes so great that the existing human and animal power in the country appears to be inadequate. As a result, the operations are either partially done or sometimes completely neglected, resulting in low yield due to poor growth or untimely harvesting or both. SCOPE OF MECHANIZATION It is quite true that the Indian farmers have the lowest earnings per capita because of the low yield per hectare they get from their holdings. One of the few important means of increasing farm production per hectare is to mechanize it. Mechanization in India may have to be done at various levels. Broadly, it can be done in three different ways: I. By introducing the improved agricultural implements on small size holdings to be operated by bullocks. II. By using the small tractors, tractor-drawn machines and power tillers on medium holdings to supplement existing sources. III. By using the large size tractors and machines on the remaining holdings to supplement animal power source. But many people are of the opinion that Indian agriculture cannot be fully mechanized. Only the improved animal-drawn implements should be introduced. It is felt that 1. There is a surplus of agricultural labour in India. 2. There are enough draft animals available in the country to do the farm work effectively. 3. The size of farm holdings of the majority of the Indian farmers is too small to justify the use of a tractor on their farms. 4. The investing capacity, of the farmers is too poor to buy a tractor and tractor-drawn implements. 5. The technical know-how of the people in the country is low. 6. In the absence of suitable farm road system, the tractor and tractor-drawn machines cannot be effectively utilized under the present conditions. 7. It will not be possible to increase the yield by using mechanical power.
Shantha Kumar . V
SOURCES OF FARM POWER
A farm power for various agricultural operations can be broadly classified as: (1) Tractive work such as seed bed preparation, cultivation, harvesting and transportation, and (2) Stationary work like silage cutting, feed grinding, threshing, winnowing and lifting of irrigation water. These operations are done by different sources of power, namely human, animal, oil engine, tractor, power tiller, electricity and renewable energy (biogas, solar and wind). HUMAN POWER Human beings are the main source of power for operating small tools and implements. They are also employed for doing stationary work like threshing, winnowing, chaff cutting and lifting irrigation Water. It is generally believed that there is surplus human power available for agricultural operations in India. According to 2001 census figures, the total Indian rural population is about 74 crores. Of the total rural population only 30 per cent is available for doing farm work. Hence the total number of persons available would be about 74 x 0.30 = 22.2 crores. This figure includes both the landless labourers as well as the owners of farms in the country. On the average a man develops nearly 0.I horsepower (hp.). Therefore, the total power available through human source may be about 2.2 crore hp. But there is a steady decline in the number of landless labourers available for doing farm work in rural areas.
Seed Drill
A seed drill is a device that sows the seeds for crops by positioning them in the soil and burying them to a specific depth. This ensures that seeds will be distributed evenly. The seed drill sows the seeds at the proper seeding rate and depth, ensuring that the seeds are covered by soil
Arun Thomas
Introduction To Organic Farming
A topic on the introduction of organic farming and its importance to the environment. No of pages : 20
Yimpangakum Imsong