1Deptt. of Farm Machinery & Power Engg., G.B. Pant University of Agricultural and Technology, Pantnagar-263 145 (Uttaranchal)
2Deptt. of Agricultural Economics, G.B. Pant University of Agricultural and Technology, Pantnagar-263 145 (Uttaranchal)
We thank the referee for the comments which helped us to improve the paper.
The impact of combine harvesters on agriculture in North-Western Plains of Uttar Pradesh and Tarai region of Uttaranchal is reported based on the survey of 360 combine-using farm households and 360 agricultural labourers selected from 36 villages of 12 development blocks of 8 districts, divided into three zones based on the intensity of combine-use. The results show that combine harvesting has displaced on an average 44 mandays per ha in paddy and 32 mandays per ha in wheat. Also, it has resulted in cost savings in the range of Rs 1623 to 2053 per ha in paddy and Rs 2393 to Rs 3326 per ha in wheat across the different size groups of farms, over manual harvesting and threshing by tractor. The agricultural labourers have reported that with adoption of combine harvesting, except during the harvesting seasons of paddy and wheat crops, the employment in crop production actually increases due to introduction of labour-intensive, short-duration high-value crops and the resultant increase in cropping intensity. Due to an average time saving of 21 days in paddy harvesting and of 23 days in wheat harvesting per farm consequent to the use of combines, a large number of farmers have also added subsidiary farm and non-farm enterprises, thus providing additional employment. However, the agricultural labourers in the sample have experienced a reduction in employment due to growing labour force through migration and increased family sizes.
