International Journal of Research in Business Studies and Management

Volume 6, Issue 9, 2019, PP 15-29

ISSN 2394-5923 (Print) & ISSN 2394-5931 (Online)

Farm mechanization in Bangladesh: a Review

Md Akter Faruk Fuad1*, Ummey Munmun Ashrafi Flora2
1
Department of Agriculture Extension, Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh
2
Department of BBA, ASA University, Bangladesh
*Corresponding Author: Md Akter Faruk Fuad, Department of Agriculture Extension, Ministry of
Agriculture, Bangladesh, Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT
Farm mechanization is one of the major cause of change in agricultural sector now a days in Bangladesh.
Labor shortage and high labor wage rate compelled the farmers to accept farm mechanization. Power
availability in farming sector increased at visible rate due to intervention of government policy in
mechanized cultivation.Adoption of mechanized cultivation increased rapidly due to active involvement of
public, private, donors and non-government organization. Quality machinery and after sale service are
necessary in successful implementation of farm mechanization program. Government intervention plays an
important role in promoting farm mechanization. The growth of manufacturing industry increased rapidly
due to increase in market size. Small and fragmented lands restrict the farmers to use larger size of farm
machinery. Government assistance in farming sector should be continued to procure selected farm
machinery at farmer’s level, exemption of import tax on some items, disbursement of fund on the machinery
research, extension and capacity building. Government should formulate mechanization policy and
promotion law on the production, supply and usage of farm machinery.The studyconcludes -there is no
doubt that the application of farm power to appropriate tools, implements and machines “farm
mechanization” is an essential agricultural input in Bangladesh with the potential to transform the lives and
economies of millions of rural families.
Keywords: Farm mechanization, Labor shortage, Bangladesh

INTRODUCTION (April-July) and a man (Aug-Nov).The country

produced 36.278 million metric ton of cleaned
Agriculture of Bangladesh is characterized by
rice in 28.075 million hectares of land (Anon,
overwhelmingly small holdings due to higher
2018b).Rice is the staple food of about 150
population density and nearly 80 per cent of its
million people of Bangladesh. It provides nearly
population residing in the rural areas coupled
48% of rural employment, about two-third of
with unabated land fragmentation due to the
total calorie supply and about one-half of the
inheritance laws of the country (Rahman et.
total protein intakes of an average person in the
al.,2011).According to preliminary estimate of
country. Rice sector contributes one-half of the
BBS, in FY2017-18, food grains production
agricultural GDP and one-sixth of the national
stood at around 413.25 lakh metric tons (MT).
income in Bangladesh (Anon, 2018c).The
In the same fiscal year, the total internal
procurement of food grains was 16.7 lakh MT yearly per-capita rice consumption is decreasing
from 180 kg in 1977 (Ahmad and Hassan,
against the target of 17.3 lakh MT.
1983) to 148 kg in 2015. The population will
In addition, an amount of Tk.20400 crore was reach 215.4 million in 2050 and the demand of
targeted to be disbursed as agricultural credit cleaned rice would be 44.6 million ton (Kabir
against that Tk.21393 crore was disbursed till et. al., 2016). This decreasing consumption is
June 2018, which was 104.87 percent of the replaced by wheat, which is the second most
target(Anon, 2018d). Rice based cropping important cereal crop, grown in winter season in
pattern shows dominancy in Bangladesh for the Bangladesh with an area and production of
highest demand of rice as staple food and 0.867 million hectares of land and 1.098 million
suitable condition for rice production (Shirazy metric ton respectively (Anon, 2018b). The land
et. al., 2016). In Bangladesh, rice is grown in area is decreasing at the rate of 80,000 hectare
80% of the total cropped area (Kabir et. al., annually due to construction of road, house and
2016). Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is grown in three industry (Anon, 2009 BRRI). The farmers have
distinct seasons- namely boro (Dec-April), aus to grow more food within the limited land

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Farm mechanization in Bangladesh: a Review

resources to meet the growing demand. The PROBLEM STATEMENT

country aims at increasing productivity in order
Farm mechanization is the main plank of
to achieve food for raising demand and establish
modern agriculture. Many developed countries
social security of this growing population
revolutionized by using farm mechanization,
(Anon, 2015a).
which resulted in tremendous production and
The agricultural labor force followed decreasing productivity gains. However, the conditions
trend (48.3 % in 2002-03 and 40.6 % in 2016- under which it was introduced in those countries
17) due to shifting low productivity to high differ greatly from Bangladesh context. Two of
productivity sector (Anon, 2018a). As a result, the most important conditions were the shortage
the availability of agricultural labor force of labour and large sizeof farm. But as the
become very scarce and cost of crop cultivation pressure of population on land is increasing
increase with the hike in the wages of labor steadily, the solution lies in mechanizing
leading to reduce profits to the farmers. agriculture, which would realize the goal of
Unavailability of laborers during cultivation achieving targeted food gains production in
period compelled the farmers to delay in Bangladesh.
harvesting which results in yield loss; sometimes
incurred total loss of field crops due to natural REVIEW OF LITERATURE
disaster. It also hampers the land preparation There have been some studies conducted on the
and sowing operations for the next crop. impacts of mechanization on overall livelihood
To keep economical consistency over the shifting of the rural population(Anon, 1973; Gill, 1984;
of manpower from agriculture to service and Miah et. al., 2002). These studies indicated that
the increased use of small scale mechanization
industry, it requires filling up the labor gap in
and to some extent, mechanization seriously
agricultural operations by mechanical
affected the income of small farmers and
interventions (Islam et. al., 2016a). There is a landless labourers while contributing little to the
substantial contribution of mechanization in overall productivity of farming system.
agricultural operations that made it possible to
release agricultural laborers to get into other Besides, a number of studies (Roy and Blase,
high income professions (i.e. business or 1978; Duft 1986; Agarwal, 1981;Aurangzeb
service). et. al.,2007) were conducted outside the country
regarding this issue. Miah et. al., (2002)studied
Total factor productivity growth in the socio-economic impacts of farm mechanization
agriculture sector of Bangladesh from 1948 to on the livelihood of rural laborers in
2008 was largely due to technological progress Bangladesh. Khalequzzaman and Karim
(Rahman & Salim, 2013).Mechanization (2007) studied agricultural mechanization and
reduces the drudgery of farm labor, relaxes its impact on rural environment. Aurangzeb et.
peak-seasonlabor constraints, reduces costs of al., (2007) found with the introduction of small-
production, and can save crucial resources scale mechanization the nature of using
(Biggs & Justice, 2015; Rahman et. al., 2011). cultivation power has changed significantly and
Low mechanization levels also can make farming it appeared that the use of power tiller for tillage
unattractive to the youth and disproportionately has increased rapidly. Wohab (2010)conducted
affect women farmers (Baudron et. al., 2015). research on status of Agricultural Mechanization
in Bangladesh. Rahman et. al., (2011) studied
Application of farm mechanization will on impact of farm mechanization on labour use
adversely affect the labour requirement, which for wheat cultivation in northern Bangladesh.
will adversely affect the exiting unemployment Reza &Khan (2013) studied on impact of farm
situation. However, at the same time it is argued mechanization on productivity and profitability
that the application of mechanization will boost of rice farm in Rajshahi district. Ahmmed,
up the overall productivity and production with (2014) studied on present status, prospects and
the lowest cost of production (Aurangzeb et. challenges of mechanization in Bangladesh.
al., 2007).With the introductionof medium-scale Islam (2016) studied on Mechanized rice
mechanization the nature of using cultivation transplanting in Bangladesh. Islam (2016a)
power has changed significantly and it appeared conducted research on investigation on selective
that the use of farm machineries has increased mechanization for wet season rice cultivation in
rapidly.In this review paper, researcher tried to Bangladesh. Mottaleb et. al., (2016) studied
analyze the status of farm mechanization in factors associated with small-scale agricultural
agriculture in Bangladesh. machinery adoption in Bangladesh: Census

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Farm mechanization in Bangladesh: a Review

findings. Islam (2018) conducted research on Since the 1960s locally manufactured mechanical
status of rice farming mechanization in threshers are extensively used as economical
Bangladesh. Aryalet. al., (2019) studied options to overcome labor shortages. In1960, a
understanding factors associated with pedal thresher was reproduced in Bangladesh by
agricultural mechanization: a Bangladesh case. „Comilla Cooperative Karkhana‟ using the
Japanese model (Anon, 2012w). At present,
DATA AND DATA SOURCES almost each district in Bangladesh has a local
The main approach is to assemble relevant thresher manufacturer. In some districts such as
information and data of most recentyear from Jessore and Khulna, there are more than 100
multiple sources. This study collected time thresher manufacturers (Anon, 2012w). Before
series data from nationaldata sources i.e 1988, the import of agricultural equipment was
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, annual report restricted. The „Standardized Committee of
of Department of AgriculturalExtension, Bangladesh‟ was responsible for controlling the
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Wheat quality of imported machinery including
Research Centre,handbook of Bangladesh agricultural equipment and only a list of
Agriculture Research Institute etc.The authors standardized machines required for agricultural
of this study also gathered very valuable operations could be imported. In 1988, the
informationfrom national, international journals, Ershad Government started liberalizing markets,
articles, review papers etc. lowered the tariffs on machine imports, and
dissolved the Standardized Committee. This
AGRICULTURAL FARM MECHANIZATION IN policy change resulted in an import surge of
BANGLADESH low-cost small engines and engine powered
Mechanization may be defined as the process of machinery such as power tillers (two-wheel
injecting power and machinery between man tractors, 2WTs),diesel pumps and other
and materials in a production system equipment into Bangladesh, primarily from
(Khalequzzaman and Karim, 2007). China (Gisselquistet. al., 2002; Kienzle et.
Agricultural mechanization is an art and al.,2013; Mottaleb et. al., 2016; Pingali, 2007).
scientific application of agricultural machinery, After the trade liberalization in 1988, cost of
tool and implement for increasing farm these machines especially power tillers and
production and cropping intensity. The minor irrigation pumps fell by 50% resulting in
irrigation policy in Bangladesh in the 20th increases of 400% in sales of diesel engines and
more than 1000% in power tillers compared to
century originally focused on large-scale canal
sales three years before the liberalization
systems and Deep Tube Wells (DTW) (Biggs&
(Gisselquist et. al., 2002).
Justice, 2015).
At present, 80% land is prepared by power tiller
Agricultural mechanization in Bangladesh there
and 18% by tractor or 2 WTs and/or 4WTs
by started with DTW for irrigation (Pingali,
(Islam, 2018 and Kienzle et. al., 2013).However,
2007). Irrigation system development and a
mechanization of other agricultural field
cooperative-model were associated with the
government promotion of four-wheel tractors (4 operations is still very low in Bangladesh and
wt) since 1960s. However, small land holding thus, adoption of other agricultural equipment
coupled with further fragmentation of land such as bed makers, seeders, weeders, harvesters
impeded the wide-scale adoption of 4 wt and winnowers is not common (Islam,
(Hossainet. al.,2007). After independence, 2009).From the onset mechanization in
irrigation policy in Bangladesh increasingly Bangladesh spurred farm machinery hiring
focused on the use of shallow tube wells services. In the 1960s, BADC established a
(STWs) and less energy requiring Low Lift rental operation system of LLP at a 75% subsidy
Pumps (LLPs) for irrigation (Biggs & Justice, scheme to farmers. Due to the prevailing small
2015).Several institutional models were under landholdings, many farmers who own
taken to promote small-scale mechanization. agricultural machines opt for hiring out these
The Bangladesh Agriculture Development machines in addition to operating ton their own
Corporation(BADC) started renting STWs to land (Biggs & Justice, 2015; Kienzle et. al.,
farmer organizations in 1972 as well as 2013). This, on the one hand, optimizes the use
investing in DTWs and LLPs (Hossain, of machines and on the other hand, increases
2009).Consequently, by mid 70sthe number of farmers‟ access to these machines. Through
LLPs in Bangladesh reached 35,000 units custom hiring services, even the poor can afford
(Anon, 2012w). to mechanize farming (Alamet. al., 2004). This

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Farm mechanization in Bangladesh: a Review

has been reported across South Asia and for Bangladesh agriculture is now one of the most
different implements – including 4 wt drawn mechanized agricultural economies in south
zero-till seed drills(Erenstein & Farooq, 2009), Asia (Baudron et. al., 2015; Islam, 2009).This
laser-land leveling (Aryal et. al., 2015) and2wt was facilitated by a focus on small-scale
(Mottaleb et. al., 2017). Hence the existence of machinery more adapted to its socio-economic
rental markets can facilitate rapid adoption of context -be it through cheap imports or local
lumpy technology and make technology production and manufacturing. Table 01
accessible to even poor and marginal farmers presents the existing scenario of farm machinery
who otherwise could not invest in or access it. available in Bangladesh.
Table1. Present Status of Farm Machinery in Bangladesh
Name of machine Quantity, no. Source
Diesel engine 25,00,000 Anon. (2016)
Power tiller 7,00,000 Ahmed, 2014; Tiwariet. al., 2017
Tractor 60,000 Ahmed, 2014; Kabir, 2014
Seeder 5,000 Wohab, 2012
Rice transplanter 300 Islam, 2016
Weeder 2,50,000 Ahmed, 2014;Tiwariet. al., 2017
Granular urea applicator 800 Ahmed, 2014
Prilled urea applicator 18,000 Anon. (2016)
Sprayer 13,00,000 Ahmed, 2014
Reaper 500 Ahmed, 2014;Tiwariet. al., 2017
Combine harvester 130 Ahmed, 2014; Kabir, 2014
Open drum thresher 1,50,000 Anon. (2016), Alam, M. (2016).
Closed drum thresher 2,20,000 Anon. (2016), Alam, M. (2016).
Winnower 3000 Ahmed, 2014; Tiwariet. al., 2017
Power driven pump 1,67,175 Anon. (2016)
Deep tube well 35,566 Anon. (2016)
Shallow tube well 15,48,711 Anon. (2016)
THE GROWTH OF AGRICULTURAL rate to pump owners through BADC until the
MECHANIZATION IN BANGLADESH 1970s (Hossain, 2009). By 1978, BADC had
rented out and managed a total of 9,000 DTWs
Bangladesh has the globe‟s highest per-capita and 35,000 LLPs (Anon, 2012x).
level of rice consumption at 172.6 kg person–
1
year–1(Anon, 2015e). The government of Irrigation and land preparation management
Bangladesh (GoB) has tended to encourage under nearly complete government control
mechanization as an avenue to increase rice however presented large logistical and financial
production and move towards rice self- burdens. Eight years after independence,
sufficiency. To facilitate this process, the GoB Bangladesh undertook liberalization policies,
voluntarily reduced import restrictions and and as a result, the government gradually opted
tariffs on select machineries, while also out of state-led support of mechanization and
supplying subsidy to help purchasers offset began the privatization of irrigation, with
fixed costs. The GoB first introduced irrigation additional efforts to open markets for land
pumps and tractors in the 1960s (Ahmed, 2001). preparation equipment (Gisselquist et. al.,
Four wheel tractors were initially promoted, 2002). BADC initiated sales to liquidate DTWs
which are arguably scale-inappropriate in and LLPs to farmers‟ cooperatives and also to
Bangladesh given the small average farm size at individual farmers, many of whom became
around 0.53 hectares, which is often divided into service providers (Hossain, 2009). Privatization,
multiple fields (Hossain et. al., 2007), making however, only gained full momentum when a
demand aggregation for tillage services among number of tariff and non-tariff barriers on the
farmers, and between-field and -farm transport import of irrigation and diesel engines and
of tractor equipment problematic. The GoB also tractors were eliminated, actions that were
first introduced centralized irrigation facilities linked to disaster response management by the
by establishing deep tube wells (DTWs) and Bangladeshi government.
supplying low-lift irrigation pumps (LLPs) to
farmers on a rental basis from the Bangladesh During this period, the GoB‟s Standardized
Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC). Committee was responsible for controlling the
The GoB also supplied fuel at 75% subsidized quality of imported machinery, including

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Farm mechanization in Bangladesh: a Review

agricultural equipment. They did so by advising agricultural machineries from abroad. Owners
the import of high-cost Japanese tractors, of agricultural machinery in Bangladesh also
pumps, and engines, while discouraging more tend to work as service providers by renting or
affordable Chinese made machinery thought to selling mechanized land preparation and
be of comparatively lower quality (Justice and irrigation services to other farmers (Krupnik et.
Biggs, 2013). The urgency resulting from the al., 2013). As a result, even relatively small
cyclone and consequent threat to food insecurity farm holders are able to access affordable
however prompted the GoB to reconsider such machinery services through custom hiring
policies. In 1988, President Hussain Muhammad systems (Anon, 2012x; Justice and Biggs,
Ershad voluntarily eliminated most of the major 2013).
import tariffs on standardized diesel engines and
 Now, almost 100% power tillers are being
two-wheeled tractors, in order to facilitate the
imported from China. Two models of power
broader availability of two wheel tractors and
tiller namely Dongfeng and Sifang are
the associated 8-16 HP Chinese engines that
widely used in the country. (Islam, 2018).
drove them. In the next step, President Ershad
disbanded the Standards Committee, to facilitate  Very few rice transplanters including
the rapid import of comparatively inexpensive walking and ride on types are operated in the
diesel engines and two-wheeled tractors from country and all the transplanters are imported
China (Justice and Biggs, 2013). Six years from Korea and China. (Islam, 2018).
later, the import of two wheeled tractors was
made completely duty free (Anon, 2012x).  CIMMYT introduced power tiller operated
Chinese seeder (2BG-6A) in 1995.
These actions resulted in a drastic increase in
imports of small diesel engines for mechanized  The use of seeder machine is increasing day
irrigation and land preparation. The number of by day, Most of the seeder machines are
shallow tube wells (STWs) used for irrigation imported from China and very few are
increased from 93,000 in 1982 to 260,000 in manufactured locally. (Islam, 2018).
1990 (Anon, 2012x). Currently, more than  Irrigation pumps and sprayers (either power
550,000 two-wheeled tractors, the vast majority or knapsack sprayer) were imported from
of which are made in China, are used to prepare Korea, China, Brazil, and India. Now,
80% of Bangladesh‟s cropland (Anon, 2012x; irrigation pumps and sprayers are
Ahmmed, 2014). A total of 1.63 million of manufactured locally. (Islam, 2018).
STWs, DTWs and LLPs are also used to irrigate
 At present, reapers are imported from China,
(BADC, 2013) nearly 55% of all cropland
South Korea, Vietnam and India. Very few
(BBS, 2011). The impact of these actions, in
rice-wheat reapers were manufactured locally
combination with other measures, appears to
and sold to the farmers. The quality of reaper
have had a dramatic impact on increasing
was not up to the mark. The local
Bangladesh‟s cropping intensity, or the number manufacturer was unable to manufacture
of crops grown per unit of land per year. This is good quality cutting blade which was the
acknowledged to have been partly attributable to crucial part of the reaper due to lack of heat
the spread of irrigation (Hossain 2009), and treatment facility. (Islam, 2018).
indicated that cropping intensity appeared to be
stagnating until the late 1980s, and then began  The demand of rice-wheat thresher and
to gradually but steadily increase as result of maize sheller are met up by the local
these actions. manufacturer. Combine harvester of different
makes and model are imported from India,
IMPORT SCENARIO OF FARM MACHINERY South Korea and China(Islam, 2018).
Import of agricultural machinery in Bangladesh FARM MACHINERY MANUFACTURING
is still active until today. In 2012-13, the most
INDUSTRY
recent year for which GoB data is available, 112
importers imported 30,771 two-wheeled tractor Until the beginning of this century, Rahman
driven power tillers with an average price of Engineering Workshop, Kushtia; Alim
USD 1,135 each. In the same year Bangladesh Industries Limited, Sylhet; Comilla Cooperative
imported 2000 mechanical seed drills and rice Karkhana, Comilla; MAWTS, Dhaka; Mahboob
transplanters, the former which can be attached Engineering, Jamalpur and Uttaran Engineering
to two-wheeled tractors for direct seeding, and Workshop, Dinajpur played pioneering rule in
USD 2.54 million worth of spare parts and other manufacturing different kinds of farm machinery

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Farm mechanization in Bangladesh: a Review

especially hydrotiller, weeder and thresher. and spare parts of power tiller and engine are
There were also small manufacturers available manufactured locally in different parts of the
in the country to fabricate threshers and country and satisfy the local demand. Very few
irrigation pumps and sold directly to the manufacturers have research and development
farmers. Large manufacturers are establishing section to modify the farm machinery according
the research and development section, setting up to the demand of the farmers. Manufacturers do
marketing and testing facility, creating good not have the instrument to test the machine in
environment for worker, installing modern off-load and load condition. Reverse
capital machinery to start line production with engineering started in Dholaikhal and Nawabpur
maintaining quality of the product. Alam et. area in old Dhaka town. Later those factories
al.,(2014b) stated that the growth of farm were shifted to Bogra and Jessore areas. Bogra
machinery manufacturing and associated is the largest manufacturer of farm machinery
industries were about 70 foundries, 800 agro- and spare-parts in Bangladesh. Manufacturer
machinery manufacturing workshop, 1,500 spare face problems on capital, setting up
parts manufacturing industries and workshops and infrastructure, skilled labor, complexity in bank
about 20,000 repair and maintenance workshops loan, low quality of raw material and technical
are engaged in agro-machinery subsector of the know-how of the worker. In the competitive
country. The growth of local farm machinery market, many manufacturers produced sub-
manufacturing industry is expanding day by standard machinery and sold to the farmers at
day. Knapsack sprayers, irrigation pump, seeder, lowest price, which created a negative impact
thresher, corn Sheller, rice milling equipment among the farmers (Islam, 2018).
Table6. Existing (Annual) Market Size of Agricultural Machinery
Annul market size (million Taka) Source
Agricultural Machineries
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Power Tillers 4200 4025 3000 4200 4375
Tractors 5525 4140 3996 4025 4375
Pump 1400 1600 1050 1225 1120
Engines 21600 30000 21750 22500 23760
Thresher 3320 4070 5216 5302 5369
Tiwari et. al.,
Corn shellers 107 142 215 268 341
2017). Alam
Sprayers(local) 126 420 428 450 458
et. al., (2017)
Sprayers imported 30 45 47 56 59
Spare parts local 20000 20600 20800 21000 21300
Spare imported 6000 5400 5400 5300 5400
Sub total 62308 70442 61901 64326 66557
Repair and maintenance of old machines 8841 10609 12731 15277 18333
Total market size 71149 81051 74632 79603 89955
IMPORTANCE OF FARM MECHANIZATION large investment. Emphasis should be given to
mechanize these operations in order to reduce
Transplanting, weeding, harvesting and threshing the labor requirement in rice cultivation. To
operations are considered as four major labor increase crop security, faster transplanting and
intensive operations in rice cultivation in
harvesting operation are ways that could only be
Bangladesh condition. Table 03 presents the established by mechanical intervention.
operation wise labor requirement in manual and Mechanization transform the labor intensive
mechanized rice cultivation. Mechanized works to power intensive works and reduce the
cultivation substantially reduces the labor force human drudgery. It has been proven that
than manual operation. Traditional method is mechanization maximize the production, reduce
incapable whereas adoption of mechanization is
the cost of cultivation and post harvest loss and
a way to meet such conditions with a burden of made agriculture profitable (Islam, 2018).
Table3. Labor Requirements in Manual and Mechanized Rice Cultivation
Labor requirement
Technology Manualman- Machineman-hr Remarks
hr ha-1 ha-1
Transplanter 123-150 9-11 Islam et. al.,(2016b) (Islam, 2018).
Prilled urea applicator 4 4 (Islam, 2018).Islam et. al.,(2015)

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Farm mechanization in Bangladesh: a Review

USG applicator 4 4 (Islam, 2018).Islam et. al.,(2015)

Weeder 86 22 (Islam, 2018).Islam et. al.,(2017)
Reaper 80-84 9-10 (Islam, 2018).Alam et. al.,(2014a)
Open drum thresher 50-52 20-22 (Islam, 2018).Islam (2006)
Close drum thresher 50-52 14-18 (Islam, 2018).Islam (2006)
Winnower (man-hr t-1) 21 5 Ahiduzzaman et. al.,(2000) (Islam, 2018).
Table4. Distribution of Labour Hours Used Per Hectare by Operation in Wheat Field
Item Mechanized farm Traditional farm Remark
Plouging 32 168
Sowing 8 9
Interculture 146 135
Irrigation 37 34 Rahman et. al., 2011
Harvesting 206 224
Threshing 25 170
Others 77 95

FARM POWER AVAILABILITY and taken different initiatives such as provided

fund in research and extension on farm
Power availability in agricultural operation machinery, policy formulation, tax exemption
indicated the intensity of mechanization. Farm
on some important items and encouraged local
power availability was calculated based on the
manufacturing of farm machinery. Hence,
energy input per unit area of cultivable land. power availability in farming sector sharply
Table 2 shows the trend of farm power increased at 8% rate due to intervention of
availability in agriculture over the period of government policy in mechanized cultivation
1960 to 2013. The power availability was very
(Islam, 2018). The progression on the farm
low before 1984. From 1960 to 1984, the rate of power availability in farming sector continued
increment of farm power was observed 1.2%.
due to provide government assistance to procure
The farming sector got momentum to use
selected farm machinery at farmer‟s level,
machinery after liberalization of import policy exemption of import tax on some items,
on power tiller in 1988. After 1995, government
disbursement of fund on the machinery research,
emphasized the importance of mechanization extension and capacity building.
Table2. Farm Power Availability in Agriculture Sector
Year Available power, kW ha-1 Source
1950 0.2
1960 0.3
1970 0.5
1980 0.8 Islam, 2010 and, Anon,
1990 1.0 2015b. (Islam, 2018).
2000 1.2
2010 1.4
2015 1.8
DIRECT BENEFITS OF FARM time. Suitability to small farms; simple design
MECHANIZATION and technology; versatility for use in different
farm operations; affordability in terms of cost
Mechanization of farming is considered as one and most importantly, the provision of support
of the top ten engineering accomplishments in services are the basic requirement for the
the 20th century (Tiwari et. al., 2017b). Farm expansion of farm mechanization. One of the
mechanization has been well-received world feasible options to increase crop production in
over as one of the important elements of the region is to follow intensive method of
modernizing agriculture. The level and appropriate cultivation and this could be achieved only by
choice of farm mechanization has direct mechanization. The global threats of food deficit
beneficial effects on land and labour productivity, also forecast to produce 40% more grain by
efficient use of farm inputs, increased farm 2020, most of which will have to come from
income and the quality of life of farmers. Farm yield increases and reduced losses through
machines also ensure timeliness of farm appropriate mechanization. Farm mechanization
operations and increase work output per unit has the potential to meet the contemporary

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Farm mechanization in Bangladesh: a Review

challenges and to increase productivity in a sustainable way.

Table2. Direct Benefits of Farm Mechanization
Benefits Value (%) Source
Saving in seed 15-20
Saving in fertilizer 15-20
Saving in time 20-30
Tiwari et. al.,
Reduction in labour 20-30
(2017a)
Increase in cropping intensity 5-20
Increase in productivity 10-15
Reduction in drudgery of farm workers 10-30
IMPACT OF MECHANIZATION ON timeliness of operation, better quality of
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY work done and more efficient utilization of
inputs. (Verma and Tripathi, 2015). (Islam,
Agricultural mechanization plays an increasingly 2018).
important role in agricultural production in the
world. Zaman (1997) and Sarker (1997)  That farm mechanization increases on- farm
revealed that mechanization had a key role to human labour marginally, whereas the
play in agricultural development. It reduces increase in off- farm labour such as industrial
drudgery, increases the safety and comfort of production of tractors and ancillaries was
the working environment; it enhances much more. (Verma and Tripathi, 2015).
productivity, cropping intensity and production. (Islam, 2018).
During the post-green revolution period, the  That farm mechanization displaced animal
impact of farm mechanization on agricultural power to the extent of 50 to 100% but
production and productivity has been well resulted in lesser time for farm work.
recognized in Bangladesh. Now, it has been (Verma and Tripathi, 2015). (Islam, 2018).
proven that mechanization creates an employment
opportunity in rural areas through diversifying  The cropping pattern and the changes there
the business especially development of skilled in depend on a large number of factors like
manpower and growth of spare parts shops in climate, soil type, rainfall, agricultural
the village level. More labors are engaged in technology, availability of irrigation facilities
manufacturing different types of farm machine. and other inputs, marketing and transport
Repair and maintenance workshops have been facilities and growth of agro-industries
established in the rural areas. It helps in poverty (Neena, 1998; Gadge, 2003; Rashid et. al.,
reduction and better livelihood of the rural poor 2005). (Islam, 2018).
people. Everybody realizes the urgency of
mechanical intervention in crop production to  Anon (1991) reported that hiring of animal
minimize the labor demand and increase the was 20 percent more expensive than PT
crop productivity. It reduces the burden of labor hiring and also supported that cash flow and
shortage during peak periods, increase the labor benefits were higher in multiple use of PTs.
productivity and encourages the off-peak Similar results was reported by Sarker
employment of labor in rural non-farm activities (1997).
especially postharvest activities i.e. drying,
 Mechanization can increase around 20%
bagging, cleaning are basically done by the
productivity of cropping system which is not
female farmers (Islam, 2018).
yet well introduced among farmers for a
From the different studies the following impacts sustainable agriculture (Das and Hasnat,
of the mechanization on the agriculture given 2016).
below.
 The cropping intensity and production of
 That farm mechanization led to increase in food crops has recently been increased
inputs on account of higher average cropping significantly due to adoption of mechanized
intensity and larger area and increased tillage, irrigation, and spraying operations
productivity of farm labour. (Verma and (Sarker, 2000).
Tripathi, 2015). (Islam, 2018).
 Farm machinery contributes to increase
 That farm mechanization increased agricultural cropping intensity by reducing turnaround
production and profitability on account of time between two crops. (Islam, 2018).

22 International Journal of Research in Business Studies and Management V6 ● I9 ● 2019

Farm mechanization in Bangladesh: a Review

 Mechanization can help to increase the Affordability

cropping intensity by reducing the turnaround From day by day price and availability of farm
time and faster operation of agricultural machineries become affordable to farmers. So
activities (Kabir et. al., 2016). considering the rate of efficiency, time per
IMPACT OF FARM MECHANIZATION ON work, labour it‟s easy to take decision to buy
THE FARMERS machineries by paying cash or installment.
(Anon. 2012)
The effects of the farm mechanization on the
farmers are in the form of new seed, fertilizer Efficiency
technology, new cultural techniques of farming, Farm machineries can combat human labour
modern farming implements and changes in the with their efficiency. Machines save time, cost
timing of operations. and labour. (Anon. 2012)
Typically, however, improvements in technology Return from Investment is High
also increase the productivity of capital and alter
the technological rates of substitution of capital Farmer can get his/her investment on farm
for manpower, reducing the amount of capital machineries back within 1 to 2 seasons. (Anon.
that is necessary to replace a unit of manpower 2012)
at particular levels of output. Other innovations Scarcity of Fodder
make it possible to reduce the amount of
manpower in relation to land needed to produce Growing scarcity of fodder, maintenance of
specified levels of output (Verma and farm animals for providing draft power became
Tripathi, 2015). costly. This development promoted Mechanization
of tillage operations and reduced dependence on
Mechanization affects the coat structure of animals for providing draft power. Wohab
agricultural production by: (2010).
 Saving labour (manual and bullock) Push Factors
 Easing jobs ‘Simple’ Machine to be Replicated
 Increasing yield Local workshops are mostly equipped with
repairing parts for the most farm machines. So
 Saving land
farmercan easily attach parts or repair their
 Facilitating the opening up of new land. equipment‟s. (Anon. 2012)
 Conserving natural resources Research and Development Efforts
FACTORS BEHIND ADOPTION OF FARM Under different GoB and donor projects, special
MECHANIZATION effort was given on the farm machineries. Day
by day researchers are trying to develop and
Pull Factors upgrade local machineries for better quality.
Labor Shortage (Anon. 2012)
Workers have to labour in puddling paddy fields Countrywide and District Level Promotion
often under high sun and heavy rainfall. The Different farm machinery companies open their
manual irrigation method for lifting surface outdoor services to countrywide district and
water to the field from nearby low-lying lands Upazila level. So farmer can buy in cash or
with accumulated surface water from rainfall installment and repair facilities easily. (Anon.
was highly labour-intensive and involved 2012)
drudgery. Therefore, escape from the extreme
drudgery in manual agricultural works, farm Raw Material Availability
machineries have been hugely accepted by the Raw material is locally available and quite
farmers as an effective and cheap replacement. cheap. Therefore, local manufacturers can buy
Mandal, (2014). (Anon. 2012) necessary raw material easily. (Anon. 2012)
Mobility Local Workshops Can Do the Servicing
Farm machineries are easily movable from one As the machine is locally produced so farmers
to another place. So farmer can earn money can avail the maintenance and repair service at
through business easily. (Anon. 2012) local level. Moreover, because of availability of

International Journal of Research in Business Studies and Management V6 ● I9 ● 2019 23

Farm mechanization in Bangladesh: a Review

numerous mechanics, engine problems can also maintenance and management of businesses.
be solved at the local level. (Anon. 2012) Alam & Khan (2017). (Islam, 2018)
CHALLENGES OF AGRICULTURAL Small and Fragmented Land Holdings
MECHANIZATION About 84.39% of the rural households are small
having 50-249 decimals of land (BBS, 2017)
Taxes and Duties on Imported Machinery
and even this small land holding is fragmented
The lifting of imports bans together with the into several plots, make the efficient use of
withdrawal of taxes and duties had made import small and medium size power tillers, tractors,
of power tillers and pumps with engines so transplanters, reapers, mini-combine harvesters
cheap that the local manufacturers are now out and other machinery difficult and lead to the
of production. Khalequzzaman and Karim problem of frequent turning and make the
(2007) Kamruzzaman et. al., 2009 operation time-consuming, tedious and
High Price of Imported Machinery expensive. Alam & Khan (2017). (Islam, 2018)
Limited Extension Services on Agricultural
Bangladesh imports many types of Agricultural Mechanization
Machinery. Prices of this machinery are very
high. So, it is beyond capacity of purchase of Implementation of appropriate scale agricultural
poor farmers (Ahmed, 1984).Khalequzzaman mechanization would be a solution for
and Karim (2007) Kamruzzaman et. al., 2009 sustaining the contribution in GDP and growth
of the sector. In doing so, DAE can employ
Lack of Applied Research on Agricultural Agricultural Engineers at all administrative
Mechanization levels to ensure appropriate scale extension and
Development of market for local products is dissemination program for the implementation
very slow. The most urgent needs of the country of agricultural mechanization in Bangladesh.
are for problem oriented applied research and Alam & Khan (2017). (Islam, 2018)
commercially oriented machinery design and Poor Quality Machines
development. Khalequzzaman and Karim For sustainable development of agricultural
(2007) Kamruzzaman et. al., 2009. mechanization availability of quality machines
Premature release of machines for economical and spare parts at farmers‟ level is essential.
procedure leads to many, field problems and Therefore, with the previous experience and
serious farmers‟ dis satisfaction. capacity Bangladesh can easily reinstate testing
Khalequzzaman and Karim (2007) and quality certification of agricultural machinery
that will help to build farmers‟ confidence and
Inadequate Policy and Actionable Plan enhance growth of agricultural mechanization in
There is no comprehensive agricultural policy Bangladesh. Alam &Khan (2017)
and actionable plan for agricultural mechanization Poor After-Sales Services
in Bangladesh, although there are several policy
In most of the remote rural areas of the country,
and policy briefs for agricultural sector, there is a scarcity of quality spare parts,
however, only few of them encompasses
replaceable tools and accessories of agricultural
agricultural mechanization as an important
machines in spare parts shop of local hat and
issue. In recent years, Ministry of Agriculture bazaars. Alam & Khan (2017)
initiated steps for having agricultural
mechanization „Road Map2041‟ and committee Lack of Quality Raw Materials and Spares
for formulation of comprehensive „National Quality raw materials are needed for quality
Agricultural Mechanization Policy‟ and product. In recent time, due to price hike of
actionable plan. Alam & Khan (2017). (Islam, imported pigiron and ship breaking scrap the
2018) foundries are mostly relying on local irons crap,
Inadequate Knowledge and Skill as a result it becomes hard to maintain the
quality of products such aspiston & liner, pump
The operators (farmers and custom-hire service etc., especially the hardness of finished product.
providers) of agricultural machinery and Alam & Khan (2017)
equipment are mostly unaware of the operation
and maintenance schedule of their machine and Lack of Testing and Standardization
equipment. The manufacturing sub-sector is The existing agricultural machinery and spare
lacking of skilled and experienced workforce parts industries and workshops in the country do
almost in all levels of manufacturing, repair & not have standardized quality control facilities

24 International Journal of Research in Business Studies and Management V6 ● I9 ● 2019

Farm mechanization in Bangladesh: a Review

to ensure quality of products. There should be a  Government initiated committee to formulate

common facility center in every major areas of National Agricultural Mechanization Policy.
agricultural machinery and spare parts
production either in public or private sector CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
initiatives. Alam & Khan (2017) Farm mechanization can facilitate increased
Limited collateral free credit to farmers output of higher value products while
eliminating the drudgery associated with human
Banks and other financial institutions do not muscle powered agricultural production. So,
provide collateral free credit to farmers and there is no doubt that the application of farm
LSPs. Few agricultural machinery marketing power to appropriate tools, implements and
companies are providing collateral free credit to machines “farm mechanization” is an essential
farmers and LSPs only on tractor. A single digit agricultural input in Bangladesh with the
collateral fee credit is necessary for the growth potential to transform the lives and economies
of agricultural mechanization and overall of millions of rural families. Moreover,
growth of agricultural sector in the country. agricultural mechanization in its broadest sense
Alam & Khan (2017). (Islam, 2018) can contribute significantly to the sustainable
Poor Farm Roads development of food systems globally, as it has
the potential to render post-harvest, processing
Mechanized farming needs accessibility of farm and marketing activities and functions more
machinery to the crop field. However, most of efficient, effective and environmentally friendly.
the rural Bangladesh does not have adequate Farm mechanization led to increase in inputs on
farm roads. Off-road prime movers like tractors account of higher average cropping intensity
and power tillers can move into uneven crop and larger area and increased productivity of
field, however, most of the machines like farm labour. That farm mechanization increased
combine harvesters cannot reach the crop field. agricultural production and profitability on
Alam & Khan (2017). (Islam, 2018). account of timeliness of operation, better quality
OPPORTUNITIES OF AGRICULTURAL of work done and more efficient utilization of
inputs. That farm mechanization increases on-
MECHANIZATION ALAM & KHAN (2017)
farm human labour marginally, whereas the
 Farmers are aware and ready to adopt increase in off- farm labour Based on the
appropriate technologies/ machines for findings of the study, the following
increased crop production. recommendations are made.
 Use of traditional crop production  There should be a clear adequate policy
technologies involving human muscle and statement and strategy on agricultural
animal power become unattractive. mechanization to encourage farmers to adopt
new, easy, economic technologies related to
 Custom-hire Service Providers are quite
agricultural mechanization.
visible in rendering agricultural machinery
services to farmers.  Identification of appropriate machinery for
farmers and continuance of maximum
 Significant number of mechanics and repair subsidy to some extent in distribution of
& maintenance work shops are at the vicinity agricultural machinery.
of the farming community.
 Farm machinery fair can be organized at
 Agricultural machinery production sub-sector upazila level annually by DAE for
have gained quite maturity in production and disseminating and promoting locally
marketing of agricultural machinery. made/improved/imported cost effective and
eco-friendly farm machinery.
 Numbers of reputed private sector
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Citation: Md Akter Faruk Fuad, “Farm mechanization in Bangladesh: a Review”, International Journal of
Research in Business Studies and Management, 6(9), 2019, pp.15-29.
Copyright: © 2019 Md Akter Faruk Fuad. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in
any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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