5. Mechanisation

Modern farming tools and technology like tractors, leveller, seeder, planter, threshers, harvesters, winnower and sprayers are also imperative for the successful cultivation of the High Yielding Varieties. These varieties require adequate arrangements of controlled irrigation. Raising of two or three crops from the same field is possible only if the modern technology is available to the farmer. The indigenous plough and bullock/buffalo carts are less efficient to complete the agricultural operations on time. Machinery like tractors, threshers, sprayers, tillers, chaff cutters, leveller, pumping sets, etc., are required for the timely operations of sowing, weeding, spraying, and harvesting. The mechanisation of agriculture also helps in the judicious utilisation of complementary inputs like chemical fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides. For example, a farmer with a tractor and blade-terraccr manages to grade his field to much better level in the course of time as compared to a farmer not having the similar equipments at his disposal. Among many useful aids which increase the efficiency of the farmers are seed-cum-fertiliser drills, well designed plant protection equipments, dunlop-cart, trolley, threshers, sprayers and tractors. Availability of electric power which is the nucleus of all technological development, is imperative for multiple cropping and intensification of agriculture. As a matter of fact, electric power has a vital role in the development and diffusion of High Yielding Varieties. It supplies the mechanical power to tube-wells, pumping sets, threshers, crushers, grinders and chaff-cutters. Availability of cheap power for agriculture helps in the adoption of new technology. At present in India, tractors are being used for tillage, of 22.78 per cent of total arable area and sowing 21 per cent of total area (2010-2011).