Factors Affecting Mechanization Index and Farm Power Availability in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Background: Agriculture is the most vital sector of the Indian economy. In 2020, India’s population was 1.38 billion, with a projected growth of 1.80 billion by 2050. As a result, more food must be produced to meet the demands. Mechanization is recognized as an important input for increasing agricultural production. It assures timely field operations, improves product quality and quantity, improves input-use efficiency and reducing labour costs and drudgery. Methods: Randomly, 5 Mandals are selected; within each Mandal, 5 villages are chosen randomly; and from each village, 20 farmers are chosen at random. For the survey, a sample of 500 farmers from 25 villages was selected to examine the mechanization index and farm power availability by considering factors such as social status, landholding and economic status of farmers. Result: According to the study’s findings, that the average mechanization index and average farm power availability were 68% and 1.64-kW ha-1, respectively. The influencing factors that observed from the study was lack of knowledge about how to use farm machines and implements, lower annual income of farmers and marginal farmers who cannot afford to buy expensive machinery and implements. The mechanization index and farm power availability increase linearly with the farmer’s economic status.