Maize mechanization for hill Agriculture to enhance productivity and profitability

Farm mechanization plays a major role in enhancing the production and productivity of different crops due to timeliness of operations, better quality of operations and precision in the application of the inputs. Though there has been increase in the use of farm machinery in Indian Agriculture yet use of farm machineries is very limited in hill agriculture particularly in maize cultivation. A number of suitable improved tools, implements and machinery were identified, procured/developed and evaluated by Division of Agricultural Engineering, SKUAST-K, Srinagar to bridge the existing mechanization gap for hilly regions of Jammu and Kashmir state. A package of improved farm equipment and machine for maize mechanization is presented along with results for the benefits of extension workers and users.