Sources of Farm power
in India
Requirements of Farm power
Power is the basic requirement of Agriculture.
Farming operations need some type of power at the
farm to operate machines for:
1. Seed bed preparation
2. Sowing of seeds
3. Water pumping for irrigation
4. Spraying and dusting of crops
5. Intercultural operations
6. Harvesting of crops
7. Processing of crops and
8. Transporting of crops for marketing purpose
SOURCES OF FARM POWER
There are different sources of farm power
available in India which are classified as:
(i) Human power
(ii) Animal power
(iii) Mechanical power (Tractors + Power tillers +
Oil engines)
(iv) Electrical power
(v) Renewable energy (Biogas + Solar energy +
Wind energy)
HUMAN POWER
Human power is the main source for operating small
implements and tools at the farm. Stationary work like
chaff cutting, lifting water, threshing, winnowing etc
are also done by manual labour. An average man can
develop maximum power of about 0.1 hp for doing
farm work.
HUMAN POWER
Merits Demerits
1.Easily available. 1.Costliest power
compared to all other
forms of power.
2.Used for all types of 2.Very low efficiency.
work.
3.Affected by weather
condition and seasons.
ANIMAL POWER
Power developed by an average pair of bullocks about 1
hp for usual farm work. Besides bullocks, other
animals like camels, buffaloes, horses, donkeys and
elephants are also used at some places. The average
force a draft animal can exert is nearly one-tenth of
its body weight. Command area of one pair bullock is
2ha.
ANIMAL POWER
Merits Demerits
1. Easily available. 1. Not very efficient.
2. Used for all types of 2. Seasons and weather
work. affect the efficiency.
3. Low initial investment. 3. Cannot work at a
stretch.
4. Supplies manures to 4. Requires full
the field and fuels to maintenance when not in
farmers. use.
5. Lives on farm 5. Creates unhealthy and
products. dirty atmosphere near
the residence.
MECHANICAL POWER
Mechanical power means power coming from
machines. It may be classified as:
a)Stationary Internal combustion engines (Petrol
engine and Diesel engine),
b)Tractors ,
c)Power tillers and
d)Self propelled machines.
Tractor Power
engines (Petrol engine and Diesel
engine)
Stationary oil engines are used for:
1. Pumping water
2. Flour mills
3. Oil ghanis
4. Cotton gins
5. Chaff cutter
6. Sugarcane crusher
7. Thresher
8. Winnower
9. And many such equipments
Flour mill
Tractors
a) 20 to 30 hp –about 25% of the total production of
tractors in India
b) 31 to 40 hp –about 60% of the total production of
tractors in India
c) 41hp and above –about 15% of the total production
of tractors in India
Tractor production started in India in 1961. The first
tractor manufacturer “M/S Eicher
Goodearth”produced ”Eicher” tractor at Faridabad.
Average command area of a tractor(35hp) is about 15
Ha.
Power tillers
Power Tillers are available in the range of 8 to 12 hp.
Average command area of a power tiller(10hp) is
about 5 Ha.
Self propelled machines
Self propelled machines are:
1. Combine harvester
2. Transplanter
3. Reapers
4. Sprayers
5. Others
Combine harvester
Transplanter Reaper
MECHANICAL POWER
Merits Demerits
1. Efficiency is high. 1. Initial capital
investment high.
2. Not affected by 2. Fuel is costly.
weather.
3. Requires less space. 3. Repairs and
maintenance needs
technical knowledge.
4. Cheaper form of
power.
ELECTRICAL POWER
Electrical power is used mostly in the form of electrical
motors on the farms. Its maintenance and operation
needs less attention and care. Electrical power is used
for water pumping, dairy industry, cold storage, farm
product processing, fruit industry and many similar
things.
ELECTRICAL POWER
Merits Demerits
1. Very cheap form of 1. Initial capital
power. investment high.
2. High efficiency. 2. Requires good amount
of technical knowledge.
3. Can work at a stretch. 3. If handled carelessly, it
causes great danger.
4. Maintenance and
operating cost is very
low.
5. Not affected by
seasons.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
It is the energy mainly obtained from renewable
sources of energy like sun, wind, biomass etc. Biogas
energy, wind energy and solar energy are used in
agriculture and domestic purposes with suitable
devices.
Solar energy Wind energy Biogas energy
Usage of renewable energy sources
Solar energy- Solar dryers, lantern, cooker,
electricity generation, solar refrigeration, solar
lighting etc
Wind energy- Water pumping, electricity
generation etc.
Biomass energy- Gasifiers to produce producer
gas, pyrolysis to produce liquid fuels, Biogas etc
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Merits Demerits
1. Very cheap form of 1. Initial capital
power. investment high.
2. Eco friendly. Don’t 2. Requires good amount
Creates environmental of technical knowledge.
hazards.
3. Endless source of 3. Requires regular
energy. maintenance.
STATUS OF FARM POWER IN
INDIA
In India about 75% farm holding belong to small and
marginal farmers, about 25% belong to semi,
medium and large farm holders.
Farm power source wise, %
Year Total Power, kW/ha Animate power Mechanical Electrical
(Human + power power
Animal)
1951 0.25 97.4 2.1 0.5
1961 0.31 94.9 3.7 1.4
1971 0.36 79.2 16.3 4.5
1981 0.63 48.2 32.3 19.5
1991 0.92 34.5 34.7 30.8
2001 1.35 18 55 27
2020 2 5 70 25
Trend of farm power and agricultural
productivity from 1952 to 2012
In the year 2020: Production of grain 2.3 t/ha and Farm power 2 kw/ha.
Farm Mechanization
Farm mechanization is the application of engineering
and technology in agricultural operation to do a job in a
better way to improve productivity.
Different stages of agricultural development and level
of mechanization are:
1. Manual
2. Using manual tools
3. Using animal for implements and machines
4. Using animal and mechanical power combined
5. Using mechanical power
6. Automatic machines
Benefits & Constraints of Farm
Mechanization
Benefits Constraints
1. Timeliness of operation 1.Small land holdings
2. Precision of operation 2.Less investing capacity of farmers
3. Improvement of work 3.Adequate availability of draft
environment. animals
4. Enhancement of safety 4.Lack of suitable farm machine for
different operations
5. Reduction of drudgery of labour
5.Lack of repair and servicing
6. Reduction of loss of crops and facilities for machines.
food products
6. Lack of trained man power.
7. Increased productivity of land
7.Lack of coordination between
8.Increased economic return to research organization and
farmer manufacturer
9. Improved dignity of farmer 8.High cost of machines
10.Progress and prosperity in rural 9.Inadequate quality control of
areas machine
Scope of farm mechanization:
1. Improved irrigation facilities,
2. Introduction of high yielding varieties.
3. Optimum placement of the seed and
fertilizer,
4. Ploughing,
5. Removal of weeds,
6. Leveling of uneven land and land
reclamation.
