Informatics Publishing Limited

Manish Kumar ¹, Ashok Tripathi ¹, Prashant M. Dsouza ², Devesh Kumar ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Vaugh Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad (U.P.), IN
2 Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, Vaugh Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad (U.P.), IN

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to test the intensification and productivity of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) for two consecutive years (2014-15 to 2015-16) at Amroha district of Uttar Pradesh, India. Different sugarcane planter and conservative tillage practices were taken as different variables for experiments. Two irrigation treatment I₁ (Pre planting irrigation) and I₂ (Post planting irrigation); two tillage treatment T₁ (Conventional tillage) and T₂ (Rotavator) followed by five planting treatment P₀ (Conventional practice), P₁ (Disc type sugarcane planter), P₂ (Slit type sugarcane planter), P₃ (Ridger type sugarcane planter) P₄ (Furrower type sugarcane planter) were performed and tested under RBD (Factorial 2 x 5 x 2) with three replications. Pre irrigation treatments showed better results as compared to post irrigation with most promising with conventional method of tillage. Although treatment T₇ (I₁P₃T₁) yields with the highest values of bud germinations (50.37 and 51.71%) at 60 DAP, cane girth (9.31 and 9.67 cm), single cane weight (1.72 and 1.96 kg), cane yield (1074.67 and 1235.53 q/h^-1). It was concluded that the mechanized planting system requires less labour and is more frugal than the conventional one.

Keywords

Sugarcane, Irrigation, Tillage, Cane Yield, Planter.

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Sumit Kumar ¹, Surendra Pal ¹, Suryakanta Khandai ¹, Manish Kumar ¹, Ashok Tripathi ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad (U.P.), IN

Abstract

Sugarcane planting is a very labour intensive job and involves considerable human drudgery. Planting creates the foundation for a crop and plays a crucial role in its growth and yield. Study was undertaken to evaluate the performance of two different models of sugarcane planters. One model was Khalsa PE-630 type cuter planter manufactured M/S Punjab engineers, Meerut and the other was ITI make cutter planter designed by Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, and manufactured by Indian Telephone Industries, Rai Bareli. In addition to this two different experimental test set ups based on different principals were developed for measuring cutting forces for sugarcane cutting. It was observed that field capacity of Khallsa make planter was 0.20 ha/hr with the field efficiency of 87.50% at effective working width of 1.34 m and a forward speed of 2.54 km/hr at 2^nd low gear. A set length of 32.96 cm with average.

Keywords

Sugarcane, Cutter Plauter.

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Manish Kumar ¹, Ashok Tripathi ¹, Devesh Kumar ¹, Sumit Kumar ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Vaugh Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad (U.P.), IN

Abstract

Sugarcane is a most important cash crop of India. It involves less risk and farmers are assured upto some extent about return even in adverse condition. In agriculture sector, sugarcane shared 7% of the total value of agriculture output and occupied 2.6% of India’s gross cropped area during 2006-07. Sugarcane provides raw material for the second largest agro-based industry after textile. About 527 working sugar factories were located in the country during 2010- 11 with total crushing capacity of about 242 lakh tonnes. The sugar industry is an instrumental in generating the sizable employment in the rural sector directly and through its ancillary units. It is estimated that about 50 million farmers and their dependents are engaged in the cultivation of sugarcane and about 0.5 million skilled and unskilled workers are engaged in sugar factories and its allied industries. Wheat-sugarcane-raton cropping system is followed in whole of western Uttar Pradesh and lower parts of Uttrakhand where sugarcane is the main cash crop and wheat is the major cereal. The system accounts for more than 60% of the total cultivated area in the region. However, lower average yield of planted cane (50 tonnes/ha) recorded in this. The reduction in cane yield owing to delayed planting cannot be compensated by additional inputs viz., frequent irrigations, extra fertilizers and inter culture operations. Planting of sugarcane involves a number of operations viz., cutting of canes into pieces called setts, opening of furrows, placement of fertilizer in the opened furrows, laying setts and covering these with a blanket of soil. The whole process of sugarcane planting is very labour and time intensive. In order to achieve uniform crop stand, correct seed rate, appropriate depth of setts placements and uniformity of setts with required overlapping are important. These, however can better be achieved by using tractor-drawn sugarcane cutter planter apart from economising labour and energy. Also there is a need to evolve proper tillage techniques for early planting of sugarcane in wheat-sugarcane crop sequence. In this paper study conducted on the performance of the effect of pre and post irrigation on different tillage treatments on soil’s physical properties on the different types of sugarcane cutter planters.

Keywords

Wheat Harvesting, Pre and Post Irrigation, Sugarcane Cutter Planters, Rigid, Slit, Disc and Furrower Planter.

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Sumit Kumar ¹, Ashok Tripathi ¹, Surendra Pal ¹, Prashant D’Souza ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad (U.P.), IN

Abstract

The agricultural sector is at the heart of rural India and continues to be a major contributor to the local and national economy. Those at the centre of this industry are farm families who represent 97% of the farming population. Engineering and technology have had both positive and negative consequences on humankind and the environment. Agriculture is not a safe occupation. Agricultural workers face a large number of health problems in the form of physical factors like extreme weather conditions, sunrays, etc.; chemical, toxicological hazards in the form of pesticides/fertilizers, etc. Many of which arise from their work. Clinically well recognized group of occupationally acquired health problems may be respiratory, dermatological, traumatic, poisoning and neoplastic in nature. Prevalence of some specific zoonotic diseases and behavioural health problems are also found to be more among them. Farming is as much a job as it is a way of life, an identity and a social representation for many. This identity has, however, in recent years been constantly threatened by yearly rises in farm accidents and fluctuations in farm deaths which climaxed in 2015 with more than 3000 people losing their lives and thousands of farmers injured during farming daily on Indian farms. Not only did 3000 families lose loved ones, whole communities and regions have been adversely affected by these deaths which have far ranging negative influence on the sustainability of rural areas and use of technology. Unfortunately one does not have to go far from the farm gate to find a farmer who has been severely disabled or injured as a result of a farm accident and often at times less further to the place of a farm death as farm accidents are so frequently fatal. In this paper we are going to preliminary research on the study of occupational safety issues and hazards for the agricultural workers in farming sector in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India and proposed a research model to study on the effect of innovation in farm technology on the health of the farm workers, various hazardous sector of agriculture and their effect on the farm workers.

Keywords

Farm Technology, Occupational Safety, Hazardous Sector of Agriculture.

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Rakesh Kumar ¹, Ashok Tripathi ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Vaugh Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Sciences and Technology, Allahabad (U.P.), IN

Abstract

The experimental result were 180 surveyed farmers, 28 per cent farmers had marginal size farm (upto 1 ha), 29 per cent had small (1-2 ha), 25 per cent farmers belonged to semi-medium (2-4 ha), 15 per cent farmers had medium size farm (4-10 ha) and 3 per cent farmers had large size farm (more than 10 ha). 40 per cent belonged to general category, 35 per cent were from backward category and 25 per cent farmers were of scheduled caste category. In district-wise distribution of farmers, 47 per cent were of small size (4 to 5 members), 20 per cent were of medium size families (6 to 7 members) and 33 per cent families were of large size (8 or more). It is clear that majority of farmers lived in small size family of farmers in Uttar Pradesh.

Keywords

Farmers, Land, Category, Education Level, Income.

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Rakesh Kumar ¹, Ashok Tripathi ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Vaugh Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Sciences and Technology, Allahabad (U.P.), IN

Abstract

India accounts for only about 2.4 per cent of the world’s geographical area and 4 per cent of its water resources, but has to support about 17 per cent of the world’s human population and 15 per cent of the livestock. Agriculture is an important sector of the Indian economy, accounting for 14 per cent of the nation’s GDP and about 11per cent of its exports. Agriculture in India is currently growing at an average compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.8 per cent. The estimated numbers of tractors, power tillers, diesel engines and motors per 1000 ha were average found to be 116, 0, 63 and 119, respectively, in Uttar Pradesh. The number of power sources per 1000 ha of net area sown in the selected village of Bareilly, Bulandshahr, Bijnour, Firozabad, Etawah, Jalaun, Kushinagar, Azamgarh and Sonbhadra districts were: Tractors-108, 172, 152, 159, 104, 106, 75, 104, and 65; Diesel Engines-91, 91, 81, 36, 51, 15, 29, 85, and 85; and Electric Motors-108, 151, 141, 165, 115, 155, 14, 145 and 80, respectively.

Keywords

Tractor, Diesel Engine, Electric Motor.

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Tarun Kumar Maheshwari ¹, Ashok Tripathi ¹

Affiliations
1 Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Vaugh School of Agricultural Engineering Technology, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad (U.P.), IN

Abstract

Agriculture is the main occupation in the Uttar Pradesh about 59.3 per cent of total workers in the state are engaged in agriculture. The Bundelkhand region is characterized as low rainfall and dry with vast marginal lands. A sizeable area (84%) was allocated to food grain crops in this region. Among cereals, wheat was the important crop. Eastern region of Uttar Pradesh is flood prone. Poverty is acute in this region. Therefore, household food security is the primary concern of the farm households in this region. Agricultural mechanization technology further varies from location to location and crop to crop. Thus, the quality of inputs of mechanization and consequently land and labour productivity may differ considerably. After selection of variables, a questionnaire was prepared to collect primary data from each agro-climatic zone of Bundelkhand region and eastern region. InBundelkhand region primary data were collected from 100 farmers from 10 villages of 2 districts i.e. 50 farmers from each district. In eastern region primary data were collected from 180 farmers from 18 villages of 3 districts i.e. 60 farmers from each district. The mechanization index, power availability, cropping intensity, irrigation intensity, annual farmers income, annual input cost, mechanical energy, total energy were higher in western region in comparison to eastern region but human energy was more in eastern region than Bundelkhand region. The average value of mechanization index, power availability, cropping intensity, irrigation intensity, annual farmers income, annual input cost, human energy mechanical energy, total energy in Bundelkhand region and eastern region of Uttar Pradesh were 0.921, 1.61 kW/ha, 124.59 per cent, 124.59 per cent, Rs. 119852, Rs.32463, 26.63 kWh/ha, 400.31 kWh/ha and 426.94 kWh/ha, 0.951, 2.61 kW/ha, 160.42 per cent, 160.42 per cent, Rs.177125, Rs.49586, 81.98 kWh/ha, 655.49 kWh/ha and 735.94 kWh/ha, respectively. Similarly, degree of mechanization was highest in eastern region than Bundelkhand region but threshing operation and diesel pumps are more mechanized in Bundelkhand region than eastern.

Keywords

Mechanization Index, Farm Power, Degree of Mechanization, Cropping Intensity, Human Energy, Mechanical Energy, Total Energy.

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Tarun Kumar Maheshwari ¹, Ashok Tripathi ¹

Affiliations
1 Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Vaugh School of Agricultural Engineering Technology, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad (U.P.), IN

Abstract

Uttar Pradesh (UP) is the most populous state in India with 16.16 per cent of India’s total population (Census, 2011). In terms of area, it is the fourth largest state in the country. The western region is characterized as the food and sugar basket of Uttar Pradesh. The western region was far ahead in adoption of improved technology as compared to other regions in Uttar Pradesh. Eastern region of Uttar Pradesh is flood prone. Poverty is acute in this region. Therefore, household food security is the primary concern of the farm households in this region. Farm mechanization is essential for sustaining agricultural growth, especially in the context of diminishing agricultural labour. However, large communities of small and marginal farmers are still not in a position to take full benefit of farm mechanization. After selection of variables, a questionnaire was prepared to collect primary data from each agro-climatic zone of western and eastern region. In western region primary data were collected from 200 farmers from 20 villages of 5 districts and in eastern region 3 districts out of 27 districts were taken for the study and primary data were collected of 180 farmers from 18 villages in 3 districts. The mechanization indicators were higher in western region in comparison to eastern region but human energy was more in eastern region than western region. The average value of mechanization index, power availability, cropping intensity, irrigation intensity, annual farmers income, annual input cost, human energy mechanical energy, total energy in western region and eastern region of Uttar Pradesh were 0.958, 3.98 kW/ha, 176 per cent, 176 per cent, Rs. 263538, Rs.45609, 63.73 kWh/ha, 1132 kWh/ha and 1203 kWh/ha, 0.951, 2.61 kW/ha, 160.42 per cent, 160.42 per cent, Rs.177125, Rs.49586, 81.98 kWh/ha, 655.49 kWh/ha and 735.94 kWh/ha, respectively. Similarly, degree of mechanization was also higher in western region in comparison eastern region in most of unit operations.

Keywords

Mechanization Index, Farm Power, Degree of Mechanization, Cropping Intensity, Human Energy, Mechanical Energy, Total Energy.

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Tarun Kumar Maheshwari ¹, Ashok Tripathi ¹

Affiliations
1 Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Vaugh School of Agricultural Engineering Technology, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad (U.P.), IN

Abstract

UP is the fifth largest state of India (24.1 million hectares) with a projected population of 220.7 million people (roughly 16.7 % of all-India population) in 2016. It is also one of the poorest states in India with 29.4 per cent of its population below the poverty line (Tendulkar Poverty Line, 2011-12). Agriculture forms an integral part of UP’s economy and the lives of its people. Nearly 69 per cent of land in the state is under cultivation. The state is also divided into 9 agro-climatic zones. Agriculture in Bundelkhand zone was vastly rain-dependent, diverse, complex, under invested, risky and vulnerable mainly because of its geographical condition. A sizeable area of 84 per cent was allocated to food grain crops in this region. Unlike other regions pulses occupied large share i.e. 43 per cent in GCA. Among the cereals wheat was the important crop although its area remained static. This region is lagging far behind in the adoption of the improved varieties and application of fertilizer. The district selected from Bundelkhand agro-climatic zone of Uttar Pradesh was Jhansi and Chitrakoot. Primary data were collected from 100 farmers from 10 villages of 2 districts i.e. 50 farmers from each district. In India, there is a need to increase the availability of farm power from 2.02 kW per ha (2016-17) to 4.0 kW per ha by the end of 2030 to cope up with increasing demand of food grains. The average value of mechanization index, power availability, cropping intensity, irrigation intensity, annual farmer income, annual input cost, human energy, mechanical energy, total energy in Bundelkhand zone of Uttar Pradesh year 2018-19 were in 0.92, 1.61 kW/ha, 124.59 per cent, 124.59 per cent, Rs.119852, Rs.32463, 26.63 kWh/ha, 400.31 kWh/ha and 426.94 kWh/ha, respectively. Still the harvesting with harvesting worker is maximum mechanize i.e. 0.993 then cultivator as well as diesel engine both had almost same value of degree of mechanization i.e. 0.469 and 0.466, respectively.

Keywords

Mechanization Index, Farm Power, Degree of Mechanization, Cropping Intensity, Human Energy, Mechanical Energy, Total Energy.

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