Local Manufacturing for Small Farms in East Asia

Abstract

ABSTRACT THE countries of East Asia were at various stages of agricultural mechanization in 1977. The range was from Japan with it's extensive mechanization of agricultural production and processing to Indonesia that was just beginning to introduce a few mechanical implements, such as; power tillers, threshers and dryers. The local manufacturing of agricultural equipment in these East Asian countries varied similarly to the level of agricultural mechanization. The study tour of October-December 1977 to Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia and the Philippines was made to investigate the development stage of local manufacturing. Particular attention was given to Japan's agricultural equipment manufacturing industry and the effect it has had in other East Asian countries. It was believed that there were many lessons to be learned from the progress, or in some countries lack of progress, made in the development of local manufacturing. Local manufacturers were selected for visitation with priority given to those producing and marketing the smallest and lowest cost equipment which the small individual farmers could most likely purchase and utilize. All five countries predominately practiced wet-land rice culture on small farms that averaged about one hectare in size so there was a similar agricultural production base. The differences between countries, however, were many, including economics, industrial and agricultural sector development, labor utilization and availability, political and social systems and natural resources.