Constraints in adoption of Modern Farm Machines by Tribal Farmers in Ramgarh District of Jharkhand

Constraints in adoption of Modern Farm Machines by Tribal Farmers

Abstract

A descriptive study of constraints faced by farmers in adopting improved tools and implements as well as suggestions to improve farm mechanization were planned. An exploratory study was conducted to enlist the major traditional and modern agricultural tools used by tribal farmers of five selected villages of Ramgarh district of Jharkhand state. Traditional tools play a crucial and dominant role in agricultural operations in tribal-dominated areas. Documentation and characterization of these tools are imperative in understanding the transition from traditional tools to modern tools. A door-to-door survey approach of randomly selected tribal farmers with a predesigned schedule for data collection was employed to collect the information on commonly used tools. Majority of farmers (75 %) were having more than one bullock, however, few (9.33 %) farmers had single bullock with them. Most of the farmers (71 %) owned less than one ha land. Only 17 (11.33%) farmers owned tractor and power tiller. Only 6 (4.61 %) and 3 (2 %) farmers owned cultivator and rotavator, respectively. Tractor with cultivator was hired by most of the farmers (32.31%), followed by rotavator (19.23 %). Based on the mean values, the ‘small size of land’ was ranked first among different constraints faced by farmers in adopting farm machines. Also, farmer’s suggested ‘Training program for skill development’ as top priority for increasing the farm mechanization status.

Keywords: farm mechanization, tribal, traditional tool, constraints, Jharkhand