Agriculture and farm mechanization in Pakistan

Usama Zahid, Hafiz Arsalan Mushtaq, Faraz Zafar, Syed Ali Bin Jabir

Department Of Mechanical Engineering, The University Of Lahore, Undergraduate Students

Abstract

Farming proceeds to constitute the spine of Pakistan’s economy by contributing 22.09% to national GDP
crude fabric to imperative businesses such as the material and sugar industry. 65.5% of its population
directly or by implication included with agriculture, but still, productivity from the farms is much less as
compared to other countries especially South Asian countries. One of the reasons for low farm
productivity is the lack of farm mechanization techniques, methods, and machinery. Farm
mechanization implies the utilize of mechanical innovation within the shifting farming operations such
as sowing, threshing, weeding and watering, etc. it is seen as a package of innovation to guarantee
opportunity field operations, expanded efficiency, diminished trim fortunes and improve quality of grain.
Pakistan has well-known agriculture universities and research centers. In Pakistan, farm mechanization
is restricted to tractors only and thus farmers are facing difficulties. Pakistan has farm power but its
standardization, system for land development, and the best seedbed preparation are required. Majority
of the small-scale farmers in the country are unable to afford basic production technologies and costly
agricultural inputs due to poverty and limited access to credit resulting in low crop yields. Technology
transfer plays a dynamic role in agricultural development. Based on PFI the best-positioned issue in
relation to cultivating mechanization is machinery utilization is not beneficial. Government and
agricultural research centers should make a plan for the betterment of farmers and to increase farm
mechanization methods.

Introduction the quality of grain. In the last few decades,

Pakistan has only
Agriculture continues to be the backbone of
Pakistan’s economy by contributing almost 21%
to national GDP raw material to important
exploited selective farm mechanization as this
industries such as the textile and sugar industry.
concept has remained limited to the use of
65-7-0% of Pakistan’s population is directly or
tractors only, and currently, Pakistan’s per
indirectly involved in agriculture, but still,
hectare use of horsepower is about 1.50, India's
productivity from the farm sector is much less
2.50, China's 3.88, and Japan's 7.0. It is very
as compared to other countries. It’s one of the
necessary to adopt farm mechanization
main reasons is the lack of farm mechanization
techniques at the local level but keep in view
and its techniques. Farm mechanization states
the small landholdings and poor economic
the use of mechanical technology in the
condition of farmers. Large-scale farm
different farming operations such as sowing,
mechanization can only be adopted if
harvesting, threshing, leveling, watering the
cooperative farming gains roots in Pakistan.
crops, spraying on crops, weeding, and similar
Agriculture has remained one of the major
other farm operations. Farm mechanization is
sectors in the world. There is no doubt that the
known as a package of technology that is used
industrial sector continues to of Pakistan’s
to make sure timely field operations, increase
economy as it contributes 22.09% thrive and its
productivity, reduce crop losses and improve
share to national GDP has increased over (major

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crops 7.6%, minor crops 3.4%, livestock 17.4%,
time but it depends largely on agricultural
Production fishery 0.4% and forestry 0.3%) to
national gross. Being an agricultural country,
Pakistan’s economy and GDP depends a lot on
the agriculture sector.
Scope of Mechanization: In Pakistan, the
farmers have the lowest earnings per capita
because of the low yield production per unit
area. The solution to this problem is farm
mechanization. Steps involved in farm
mechanization
 Introduce improved agricultural implements
on smallholdings, which are powered by
oxen.
 Introducing small tractors, tractor-drawn
machines, and power tillers on medium
landholdings.
 Introducing large-size tractors and
machines on large landholdings.
There is a positive correlation between the
application of improved technologies and land
productivity. The repair, maintenance and
revamps facilities for tractors and other
machines are expanding. The development of
machines made from improved riding-type
animals may improve the current situation, but
they cannot be a substitute for tractor-made
machines. Using mechanical power, man will be
able to control large areas. More power is
needed to carry out work efficiently at the right
time, to change attitudes, and to raise the social
status and prestige of those working in
agriculture.
Required power can be achieved by:
 Improving bullock harness and hitches
 Developing and introducing small tractors
 Increasing the number of large horsepower
tractors.
History of Farm Mechanization:
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Tractor manufacturing industry: The tractor
manufacturing industry in Pakistan started with
the establishment of Rana tractors.
Nowadays (Millat Tractors Limited) in 1964 was
established and an assembly plant was set up in
1967 to assemble tractors imported in semi-
knocked down condition.
Manufacturers of Belarus, Ford and IMT
tractors went out of business and now only two
manufacturers are active in local manufacture
of tractors. M/s Millat Tractors Ltd. Lahore and
M/s Al-Ghazi Tractors Ltd. M/s Millat Tractors
Ltd. are producing 45,000 units annually while
M/s Al-Ghazi tractors Ltd., has an installed
capacity of over 30,000 tractors on a single shift
basis.
Agriculture implements and machinery
manufacturing industry
The agricultural implements and manufacturing
industry started with the establishment of
Esakhel state farm, KotSamba, and District
Rahim Yar Khan. They played a vital role in the
promotion of farm mechanization in Punjab.
The Rachel farm provides training to farmers of
the area and also provided repair and
mantainence services for the tractors and
implements.
Farm mechanization and research
development:
Farm mechanization and research development
in Pakistan started with the establishment of
Agricultural engineering Research and
development. Some institutions which are
doing research development on farm
mechanization are as follows:
 Agricultural Mechanization Research
Institute (AMRI)
 Agricultural Machinery Division (AMD)
 Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Institute (ABEI)
 Crop World’s Potential Average Yield Yield
Agricultural Engineering Education in Pakistan highest 2011-12 gap gap
yield (ton/ha) (times)
Following are the universities which are (ton/ha)
Wheat France 6.81 2.83 3.98 1.72
promoting agriculture education in Pakistan: (7.50)
Seed China 4.33 2.19 2.14 2.02
 University of agriculture, Faisalabad cotton (4.00)
 Sindh Agriculture University Sugarcane Egypt 300 56 244 2.02
(120.00)
 Lasbela University of agriculture Maize France 10.20 3.81 5.39 1.71
 BZU University (10.90)
Rice USA 5.15 2.04 3.11 1.66
 University of Agriculture Peshawar (7.40)
Strengths and weaknesses of the existing increase in the population is seriously
agricultural mechanization system: threatening the food security policies of the
Punjab despite having Pakistan’s best country. .Therefore, a serious increase in
alluvial soils, diversified weather conditions agricultural production is necessary to
with most appropriate day-night secure the agricultural future of the country.
temperature conditions, is facing
curtailment like low growth rate, low
productivity, high cost of production and
post-harvest losses, poor quality of
products, and exorbitantly high market
costs. .Punjab's agriculture is plagued by Table-1.1. The yield of major crops of Pakistan
various weaknesses and dangers. Punjab's compared with the World’s highest yield
current production system is based on Present status of farm mechanization
supply rather than demand, which results in
lower prices, especially in peak season.. On Pakistan is a low-income generating country.
the other hand, consumers pay high prices Agriculture is its most important sector due to
during the offseason. This not only its primary commitment to providing healthy
generates low returns to farmers but the food to the fast-growing population. To
consumers also don’t get the required improve the productivity of land, a relevant
quality and quantity of the product for the mechanization strategy should be evolved and
price they pay. Farmers lack the capacity complied by keeping in view the previous
and knowledge to produce as per market trends of farm mechanization in the country.
demand. Empowering farmers with the This article will summarize the level of
information and ability to produce as per mechanization in the country and try to
market demand can increase farmers’ highlight the weaknesses of the field.
income, and increase consumers’ Availability of farm power
satisfaction.
In Pakistan, agricultural mechanization is Farm power is an essential component of
limited to tractors and cultivators only. Due modern farm mechanization programs.
to conventional farming ways and less Although, the tractor is among one of the major
involvement of innovative technology, the sources of power available at the farm level yet
country is facing serious problems of yield the draft animals, agricultural workers, small-
gap (FAO, 2012). There is a huge gap scale diesel engines, and electric motors (Table
between production potential and average 1-2) is used as a source of power in the
yield (Figure 1). Moreover, the drastic country’s agriculture .For the year 2013-14

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(GOP, 2015), based on the population of standard raw materials, components like gears,
tractors in Pakistan and total agricultural area of sprockets, etc. Lack of finance and marketing
​ ​ 22.68 million hectares (GOP, 2011), there skills; And manufacturers' ignorance about
is only one tractor for every 24 hectares of standards, unavailability of standards in Urdu
cultivated area. Assuming 50 horsepower per
Power Average hp population Available hp
tractor, the available power in the country is source capacity
only 0.84 horsepower / ac compared to the Tractors 50 948,919 47445950
recommended power of 1.0 horsepower / ac.
Work 0.5 200000 100000
animals
The successful development of farm
labor 0.1 38.6*10^6 38.6*10^6
mechanization is determined primarily by the
transition process from the manual tools Tube wells 16.75 1075073 18007473
through animal-drawn implements and finally
and their implementation.
to the application of mechanical power
technologies which affects machining capacity Fertilizer drills with seed and seed, planter,
and farm work time requirements. From mechanical rice transplanter, vertical conveyor
tractors and front end loaders to wheat and wrapper and used only by landowners and
corn threshers to potato digging machines, other large farmers. In the recent past, Zero Till
there is a long list of locally made ones in Drill and Reed Bed Planter, Laser Land Leveller,
Pakistan. Turbo Happy Cedar have been well received by
small farmers.
. Some of them are also exported, but it’s
difficult to track the trend. Pakistan's Human power
agriculture sector also faces over 40-80% post-
harvest losses, if compared with global Human power is the most important source
standards. There are around 500 small and of control for working little instruments and exe
medium scale agricultural machinery units cutes. They are too utilized for doing stationary
manufacturing farm implements/ machines for work like sifting, winnowing, chaff cutting, and
land development, seedbed preparation, lifting water system water.
seeding/planting, intercultural, reapers, wheat Animal Power
threshers, maize shellers, sprayers, and farm
trolleys and meeting the country demand. The An important source of control on farms all over
nearby cultivate machinery/implements the world and especially in Pakistan is animals.
fabricating industry has been given motivations It is assessed that nearly 80 percent of the
of zero deals assess. The locally-made cultivated entire draft control utilized in farming through
machinery/types of hardware need out the world is still given by animals
standardization and quality. Mechanical Power
Standardization is required for utilization of the The third important source of farm power is
correct sort of fabric and guaranteeing the mechanical power which we get from tractors
tradable of components and in this way and engines. The efficiency of diesel engines is
encourages simple repair/maintenance of the between 35-40%, whereas that of the petrol
items. The quality of locally manufactured farm engine is in the range of 25-30%. Nowadays,
machines is generally poor due to engineering diesel engines and tractors have gained
and technical manpower. Poor design Incorrect remarkable popularity in agricultural operations.
manufacturing techniques; Lack of availability of

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 Mechanization for cultivated land and seedling
bed preparation

Culturing actualizes are required to annihilate

pest shelters and to disturb their life cycles,
circulate air through the soil, eradicate weeds,
consolidate edit buildup, fertilizer, and form
other cultivate social homes simpler to attempt.
Cultivator is the foremost broadly utilized
execute for primary as well as auxiliary culturing
of soil and s growing profoundly mid the final
four decades. The availability of cultivators in
the country has expanded from 369 thousand in
2004 to 901 thousand in 2014. Proceeds
increment within the cultivator is due to its low
Systemization for land development draft requirement conjointly its cost is
Pakistan is anticipating to have a twofold impressively less as compared to the other
populace and end up 4th biggest country by culturing actualizes. Repeated use of cultivator
2050 from the current status of the 6th most not only creates hardpan which unfavorably
crowded state of the world. The add up to affects root development but it does not fulfill
developed range has expanded by fair 40% the reason of culturing.
amid past 60 a long time, whereas there was 4 Problems faced by the farmers in farm
times the increment in populace with the urban mechanization
extension of over seven-folds coming about into
Problems Not Low Medium high PFI Rank
megacities as well as rising populace weight of at
developed arrive. Despite that wheat, all(0)
Low quality 0 17 49 27 196 2nd
generation has expanded by fivefold but of
the nation is still minimal merchant of wheat machinery
(Add up to rural arrive within the nation is 30.95 Bad working 1 40 43 9 153 7th
quality
million hectares out of which as it were 22.68 Repair and 0 18 54 21 189 3rd
million hectares is being developed Add up maintenance
cost is high
to trimmed range diminished from 23.76 million Shortage of 0 18 69 6 174 4th
hectares to 22.54 million hectares amid 2009- qualified
operator
2014 due to serious surges, water scarcity, and maker
and saltiness issues within the nation coming Spare parts 50 24 18 1 63 8th
are not
about in increase of cultivable wasteland from available
8.14 to 8.27 million hectares over the same Need to go 3 25 65 0 155 6th
to Upazila to
period. A considerable part of this cultivable buy spare
8.27 million hectares waste could be brought parts
Machinery is 2 6 38 47 223 1st
under cultivation by harnessing the available
not
water resources and using mechanical power. profitable
The high 1 19 69 4 169 5th
price of the
machinery

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These problems decrease the potential of crop mechanical farm power has grown
production in Pakistan. The table below is exponentially. However, agriculture contributes
showing the crop production 16.2% to the national GDP and employs about
41.3% of the population of the country. BRRI in
Table A
Bangladesh is trying to fabricate/develop
Crop Yield (ton/ha) modern agricultural machinery for the
Wheat 4.51 betterment of the farmers. Since its inception,
Cotton 2.99 BRRI has already developed more than 32 types
Rice 4.57 of agricultural machinery and technology, of
Maize 7.47 which more than 15 types of machinery and
Sugarcane 106.72 technology are being used or adopted by
farmers.
Research on the potential of Pakistan crop
Stats Bangladesh Pakistan
production
Agricultural Ranked 44th Ranked 52nd
Table B growth
Agricultural Ranked 53rd Ranked 61st
Crop Yield (ton/ha) growth per
Wheat 6.80 capita
Cotton 4.35 Agricultural 91280km 265,500
Rice 5.25 land in sq.
Maize 9.20 km
Sugarcane 300 Farmworkers 35.56 million 24.9 million
Table A and B shows that how much Pakistan
lack in its potential for crop production due to a
lack of farm mechanization techniques. Farm power in Bangladesh
Comparison with Bangladesh Farm Power is an essential input in agriculture
for timely field operations for operating
Agricultural mechanization has been quickened
different types of farm equipment like
in Bangladesh within the later years. Over the
operating irrigation equipment, tillers/
final two and a half decades farm power
weeders/ threshers/ shellers/ cleaners/ graders,
increased essentially in the nation.
and other post-harvest equipment.
Bangladesh gets independence after 24 years of
Pakistan coming into being but as a nation, they
are far better than Pakistanis nation. Agriculture
has been the backbone of Pakistan for many
years. Bangladesh adopted the best farm
mechanization techniques to get better results
in the cultivation of the crop. Agriculture plays
an extremely significant role in Bangladesh’s
economy as well as the technique of
agricultural mechanization which has been
accelerated in Bangladesh in the last few years.
Over the past two decades, the use of

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The graph is clearly showing that how the per
worker vale in agriculture decreasing in Pakistan
as compared to its neighboring countries
parallel to farm mechanization methods such as
the proper preparation of seedbeds. The
government has the greater responsibility to
take steps for the betterment of farmers. User-
friendly farm machinery also needed to be
developed so that farmers can use them easily
which might help to form the favorable attitude
of the farmers. Pakistan’s agriculture is
currently not producing as much output it has
the potential to produce, due to some problems
which this sector is facing today. The fisheries
and forestry sector need to be given special
attention from the government in order to get
the maximum possible output.

Suggested solution of the problems

 Government should provide subsidies is

heavy farm machinery
 Subsidies on the fuel of the farms must be
ensured and monitored strictly
 Skilled labor must be developed for better
productivity
 Farms machinery should be available at low
market prices
 Repair and mantainence for the machines
should be easy for the farmers
 It is our need to use small-scale and cost-
effective agricultural machinery and
increase the total production of organic
productivity.
 There should be a clear and strict policy
statement and strategies on agricultural
mechanization to encourage the farmers to
adopt new, easy, economic technologies
related to agricultural mechanization.

Conclusions

Pakistan must consider its potential of farm

productivity to increase its GDP and hence the
economy. Locality-specific farm mechanization
techniques need to be adopted. Productivity
can be increased by using traditional methods

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