Principles of farm Mechanization

The previous agricultural operations involved the use of drudged with the attendant of negative effects such as low the work output rates, poor finishing, food inadequacy for the growing populace, and so on. Later, intensive farm mechanization was then adopted as a vital farm tool to avert this drudgery and to raise agricultural production from subsistence level to foreground of wealth creation, rural industrialization, famine / malnutrition eradication and poverty alleviation as well as to match the desired needs of the population explosion. In the same vein, mechanization provides the necessary anchor for sustainable agriculture or a boost in agriculture.

Farm mechanization can be said to be the selection and efficient use of farm machinery for crop production including harvesting and post – harvest operations. In line with this definition, therefore, the crucial factors in farm mechanization business activities are the machinery selection and efficient utilization of the machines. The adherence to lay down procedures for the selection process enhances the effectiveness of farm mechanization, most especially in the aspect of farm machinery maintenance. Very importantly, good selection needs to be complemented with proper machinery utilization to justify the usual huge investments on procurements of the farm machinery and equipment for mechanization. Improper operation or utilization is always attended with premature machinery failure and consequently financial losses.

Generally, farm mechanization is presently rapidly progressive in developed countries with the scope and sophistication varying from one nation to the other. On the other hand, the inadequacy in the local manufacturing capabilities and maintenance technology of the machines, to a large extent, has result in relegation of mechanized agriculture of most under developed and developing nations to the background.