International Journal of Agricultural Sciences

Raj Rani Sharma ¹, Sanjeev Kumar ²

Affiliations
1 University Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Chandigarh University, Chandigarh (Punjab), IN
2 Department of Social Sciences, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (H.P.), IN

Abstract

The Himalayan region extends all along the Northern boundary of India. Traditionally, agriculture on hills was practiced on a subsistence basis but, with the development of means of transport, storage facilities and other infrastructure, hill agriculture has become commercial in character. The present study has been carried out in Indora and Nurpur blocks of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh which fall in North-Western Himalayan region of India. A sample of 100 kinnow growers was drawn for the present study using multistage sampling technique. The results of the study revealed that on overall farms,89 per cent of total variation in kinnow production was explained by independent variables. Human labour, FYM and fertilizer were under-utilized resources on overall farms and more use of these inputs will increase the output significantly. Among different categories of farms, the regression co-efficient for human labour was positive and significant on medium (0.621) and large farms (0.399) while fertilizerwas positively significant on all categories of farms. The regression co-efficient value for FYM was positively significant on small (0.445) and medium farms (0.474) and regression co-efficient for plant protection chemicals was found significant only on large category farms (0.158). The MVP value for human labour (1.327), FYM (3.526) and fertilizer (4.527) on overall farms revealed that by increasing the use of these inputs by 24.64, 71.63 and 77.91 per cent, respectively, the profit would be increased. The findings of the study clearly showed that these resources were underutilized by the farmers in the study area and optimum use of these resources would definitely increase the returns of kinnow growers in the study area.

Keywords

Agriculture, Multistage Sampling, Regression Co-Efficient, Returns.

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Aditi Raina ¹, Rajesh Thakur ¹, Sanjeev Kumar ¹

Affiliations
1 University Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Chandigarh University, Gharuan (Mohali) (Punjab), IN

Abstract

Farm mechanization has been recognized as one of the important inputs for increasing the productivity of land by ensuring timeliness and precision of agricultural operations, reduction of loss of crops and food products, increased labour work output per unit time by reducing efforts and drudgery and improved quality of farm operations. Therefore, present study on problems of farm mechanization was conducted in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. Primary data was compiled from 80 farmers/households (56 small and 24 large) selected randomly from 8 villages of Nurpur and Panchrukhi block in Kangra district. The major problems associated with farm mechanization reported by farmers were undulating and high slope, scattered holdings, small size of fragments, terraced and non-uniform shape of fields, poor financial conditions of the respondents for buying machineries, lack of proper trainings about operation of implements/machineries. Based on the findings of the study, it was suggested that the state government should increase the existing level of subsidy from 25 per cent to 50 per cent on farm machinery and implements especially in case of tractors and power tillers and connectivity of operational holdings with the roads for the overall development of agriculture in hilly areas. The topography in study area is mostly hilly and undulating and was identified as one of the major constraints with respect to farm mechanization. Therefore, emphasis should be given in the designing and manufacturing of small size tractors suitable for the hilly regions of the state.

Keywords

Farm, Mechanization, Problems, Power, Strategy.

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