Economics of farm mechanisation in Pigeonpea cultivation in northern dry zone of Karnataka

Abstract

This paper attempts to evaluate the impact of mechanisation in pigeon pea cultivation in northern dry zone of Karnataka. The study was based on primary data, obtained through personal interview method using well-structured and pre-tested schedules. The total sample size was 30. The data pertained to the year 2017-18. The budgeting technique and output decomposition model were used to evaluate the impact of mechanisation. Mechanisation has led to human labour saving to the tune of 39.33 man days and 20.00 pair days of bullock labour by using additional 25.18 hours of machine labour. The mechanised farms made a human labour cost saving by Rs. 7881.87. The mechanised farms used slightly fewer quantities of inputs compared to non-mechanised farms. Yield was observed to be higher in mechanised farms (17.92 q/ha). The output decomposition model revealed that mechanised farms produced 35.37 per cent higher income in pigeon pea than that in non-mechanised farms. The mechanisation alone contributed 35.99 per cent increase in income, while fewer labour use of inputs depressed the income marginally.