IMPACT OF FARM MECHANIZATION ON INCOME AND EMPLOYMENT AND CONSTRAINTS IN MECHANISATION OF RICE CULTIVATION IN WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT

Abstract

Impact of mechanised rice cultivation on income and employment in West Godavari district was
estimated using multiple linear regression analysis. The results revealed that the coefficient of machine
cost and fertilizer cost was found to be significant,in fully mechanised farmswhich indicates increase
in machine and fertilizer cost by one unit would result in 2.31 units and 0.25 units increase in the net
income, respectively. In partially mechanised farms, the coefficient of machine cost and manures cost
was found to be significant. This means an increase in machine cost and manures cost by one unit
would result in an increase of 13.21 and 0.20 units in the net income, respectively. Impact of farm
mechanisation on employment of labour revealed that the coefficient of input costs and machine time
were negative and significant which indicates that, one unit increase in the input costs and machine
use time, would decrease the labour requirement by 0.06 and 4.34 units respectively. Major constraints
identified in fully mechanised farms were insufficient number of machinery and high cost of machines.
Whereas, in partially mechanised farms, lack of awareness on government subsidyfor machines and
low amount of subsidy were the major constraints.