Sale trend of tractors & farm power availability in India

Mechanization has been well received in India as one of the important elements of modernization of agriculture. Tractor growth in the country in terms of production and sale was many folds. A tractor could be found after every 36 ha cultivated area in span of 60 year. Most common range of tractor is 31-40 hp. About 9% of tractor was exported every year and majority is of above 51 hp. Uttar Pradesh (UP) is the largest consumer of tractors (15.1% to 27% of sale in respective years) in decade (2000-2010) except Andhra Pradesh (14.44%) in year 2007-08. Current trend of sale of tractors also indicated that Uttar Pradesh is having the largest share of 21-30 & 31-40 hp range tractors and Punjab for 41-50 & above 51 hp range of tractors within the country. As far as sale of tractors within the state, Bihar is the largest consumer of 21-30 hp range of tractors, Orissa in 31 -40 hp, Jammu & Kashmir for 41-50 hp and Punjab for above 51 hp tractors. Maharashtra is the highest (65.1%) consumer of less than 20 hp tractors mostly for orchard farmers. During last 50 years the average farm power availability in India increased from about 0.30 kW/ha in 1960-61 to about 1.73 kW/ha in 2009-10. Over the years the shift has been towards the use of mechanical and electrical sources of power, While in 1960-61 about 92.30% farm power was coming from animate sources, in 2009-10 the contribution of animate sources of power reduced to about 13.15% and that of mechanical and electrical sources of power increased from 7.70% in 1960-61 to about 86.85% in 2009-10. Over the years the contribution of animate source of power, especially that of draught animals, has been going down drastically. This shows that the additional need of farm power is being met through mechanical and electrical sources of power. This trend is going to continue in future also.