Advantages And Disadvantages Of Farm Mechanisation

Hello, welcome to my hall on farm mechanisation, advantages and disadvantages.

“Discover the advantages and disadvantages of farm mechanization. Learn how it boosts productivity and efficiency while understanding challenges like high costs and environmental impact.”

Table Of Contents

1. Meaning of farm mechanisation.
2. Problems of farm mechanisation.
3. Advantages of farm mechanisation.
4. Disadvantages of farm mechanisation.
5. Limitations of farm mechanisation.
6. Ways of Improvement Agriculture through mechanisation.

What is Farm Mechanisation?

Meaning: Farm Mechanisation is the application of engineering principles and technology in agricultural production, storage and processing of the farm.

Farm mechanization is applicable to land preparation, planting, fertilizer application, weeding and crop harvesting, rearing, care and feeding of animals as well as processing and storage of Farm produce, using appropriate Farm Machinery.

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• System of agriculture, types and characteristics
• Uses and maintenance of farm structures and buildings
• Effects of Liming in Agriculture advantages and disadvantages

Problems Of Farm Mechanization

1. Land tenure system
2. Scattered farm holdings
3. Poverty of farmers
4. Inadequate facilities (machinery)
5. Bad topography
6. Varied soil types
7. Inadequate spare parts
8. Inadequate technical manpower
9. Problems of stumps and logs

Below are the Advantages and Disadvantages Of Farm Mechanisation

Advantages of Farm Mechanization

Farm mechanization has the following Advantages.

1. Timeliness of operation: Farm mechanization ensures that all farm operations are done and completed within a short period of time.
2. It saves labour: In Farm mechanization most human efforts are instituted with machines. Hence, labour saved could be employed elsewhere.
3. It encourages large-scale farming: Farmers are capable of working on large farms and hence, reap heavy harvest.
4. It reduces drudgery: Farm mechanization make it easy to avoid unpleasant manual jobs.
5. It reduces health hazards. This include those pose by knife, hoe, stumps and pests. Etc.
6. It promotes specialization of labour: Farm mechanization enables people to become specialized in certain operations within the farm.
7. Co-operation among farmers: Mechanization enables many farmers to come together and pool their resources together there by promoting or encouraging co-operation among farmers.
8. It saves time: Mechanisation translate quickly the product of man’s brain into reality.
9. Reduction in cost of operation: Mechanisation leads to reduction in the cost of agricultural operations per unit output.
10. Improvement in quality of produce: Farm mechanization usually improves the quality of some farm produce, example: rice processing.
11. Availability of labour for other sectors: Mechanisation also helps to release labour to other sectors of the economy.
12. Use of less human labour: The use of less human labour is another advantages of farm mechanisation, mechanization helps to accomplish lots of work with less human labour.
13. Increase your farm revenue: As a result of mechanization, farmers become richer due to high yield.
14. Increase output: Mechanization makes it possible for farmers to have increase in output (production, harvest and yield).

Disadvantages of Farm Mechanisation

Farm Mechanisation has the following Disadvantages:

1. High cost: High cost is the first disadvantages of farm Mechanisation, Farm mechanization due to the numerous machines involved, is usually expensive to operate.
2. Displacement of workers: In Farm mechanization, very few workers are required: hence, many people will be out of job when localization is introduced.
3. It causes environmental pollution: Mechanisation causes environmental pollution due to smoke emanating from machines, chemicals and fertilizer usage.
4. Land tenure system: Land tenure system may hinder efficient use of tractors due to small holding of farmlands.
5. Degradation of landscape: Mechanization ensures the degradation of landscape as a result of continuous excavation
6. High cost of maintenance: There is usually high cost of maintenance involved especially for heavy machines.
7. Damage to crops: Most crops are damaged during mechanized Farm operations especially if care is not taken.
8. Spread of pests and diseases: Mechanization helps to spread pests and diseases through contaminated machineries.
9. Few crops can be mechanized: Very few crops like maize, rice, Guinea corn, millet, etc. Can easily be mechanized.
10. Redundancy of Farm labour: With Farm machines working on the farm, the work can easily be completed and this situation can create redundancy in family labour.
11. Human control: Mechanization needs human labour to control it.
12. Destruction of soil structure: The soil structure can easily be destroyed due to continuous movement and usage of machines.
13. Compaction of soil: mechanization lead to compassion of soil due to the movement of heavy machines.
14. Inadequate technical know-how: There is always inadequate technical know how on the used and handling of Farm machines and equipments.
15. Unstable fuel supply: Unstable fuel supply can affect the working of machines.
16. Inadequate spare parts: Most spare parts or replaceable part are not always available. Therefore they may be scarce or inadequate.

Read Also

• Advantages and Disadvantages of human power in Farm operations
• Simple Farm tools, description functions and uses

Limitations Of Farm Mechanization

Factors limiting agricultural mechanization include:

1. Economic limitation
2. Technical limitation
3. Lack maintenance
4. Small farm holdings.

Possible ways Of Improving Agriculture Mechanisation

Let’s take a closer look at the solutions to improving agriculture through Mechanisation

1. Farmers should be educated to accept modern systems of farming, especially the area of mechanization.
2. Government should provide loans to enable farmers to purchase Farm machines.
3. The land tenure system should be reviewed to enable farmers to acquire large hectares of land.
4. Simple and less expensive machines should be developed.
5. Farmers should form co-operative societies to enable them to pool their resources together to buy Farm machines.
6. Government should establish agricultural engineering schools or institutions to train personnel, and fabricate simple machines. Learn more about types of farm machinery here.

Conclusion on Farm Mechanisation

Farm mechanization has revolutionized agriculture by increasing efficiency, reducing manual labour, and enabling large-scale farming. However, it also presents challenges, such as high costs, environmental concerns, and labour displacement.

To maximize the benefits of mechanization, farmers need access to affordable machinery, training on proper usage, and policies that balance technological advancement with the well-being of rural communities. By addressing these challenges, farm mechanization can play a crucial role in ensuring sustainable and efficient agriculture for the future.

With these, students should understand the definition of farm mechanisation, The advantages and Disadvantages of farm Mechanisation, problems, limitations and ways of improving farm mechanisation.

What are your thoughts on farm mechanization? Have you experienced its advantages or faced its challenges? Share your insights in the comments below!

Revision Questions for Students

1. What is the meaning of farm mechanisation?
2. List the problems of farm mechanisation.
3. (a) State any five Advantages of farm mechanisation (b) outline seven disadvantages of farm mechanisation
4. (a) State the limitations of farm mechanisation in agriculture (b) discuss six possible ways of Improving agriculture through mechanisation.