Role of agricultural engineering in doubling food productions in next ten years

The Government of India has given top priority for doubling food production in next ten years. This calls for accelerating the growth rate of agricultural production from present level of about 3.7% to about 7.18% annually, which appears to be quite difficult but not impossible. In irrigated rice-wheat cropping system a large number of farmers have achieved yields of 8–12 tonnes/ha. Other farmers can also achieve that yield if the improved production technology is properly demonstrated and agricultural inputs and other facilities are provided to them in time.

On the basis of analysis of trend in food grain production in important States during 1996–97, it is observed that the productivity of Punjab is over 3.78 tonnes/ha, that of Haryana is 2.84 tonnes/ha, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh is about 2.1 tonnes/ha, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu is between 1.7 to 1.9 tones/ha, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir is between 1.5 to 1.6 tonnes/ha, Assam, Gujarat and Karnataka is between 1.2 to 1.3 tonnes/ha and that of Orissa, Madhya. Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan is between 0.8 to 1.1 tonnes/ha, while the national average is about 1.6 tonnes/ha. The main reason for low productivity is less irrigation, low fertilizer consumption, less use of high yielding varieties, low availability of Farm Power/ha, non availability of improved high capacity precision equipment for timely farm operations and non availablity of appropriate Post Harvest. Technology for reducing post harvest losses.

While genetic improvement and increased use of fertilizer and irrigation water will play important role in increasing production and productivity, the improvedfarm implements and machinery have to play their important role in timely farm operations at reduced cost, maximizing efficiency of agricultural inputs by proper placement/application and minimizing losses in production, processing, handling, transport and storage of food grains, fruits, vegetables and other agricultural produce.

This paper analyses the constraints and suggests ways in which the Agricultural Engineering Technology can help in accelerating the growth of agricultural production in next ten years to achieve the high target.