Impact of Mechanization under Maize Cultivation in Karimnagar District of Telangana State, India for Enhanced Profitability

Abstract:

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the major crops in Telangana state grown for commercial and seed-production purposes. For better returns to farmers and to arrest inefficiencies in cultivation techniques , it is imperative to take up mechanization extensively as it would also help in handling labour shortage in villages. The studycum demonstrations were conducted in Karimnagar district of Telangana state in India during the period of 2017-20 to find out the effect of mechanization on labour use and profitability in maize cultivation with the utilization of seed cum fertilizer driller, vacuum precision planter, Boom sprayer , combined harvester. The findings indicated that the mechanization in maize for sowing operation with seed cum fertilizer drill saves 15% cost (Rs.1675/ha), and with vacuum precision planter saves 32 % (Rs.3510/ha) , than compared to the conventional method of sowing behind plough (Rs.10850/ha), The mechanized spraying with Boom sprayer indicated saving of 74 % on labour cost (Rs.325/ha) as compared to spraying with Knapsack spraying (Rs.1250/ha) . The mechanization for maize harvesting and threshing operation with a combined harvester amounted to (Rs.11250/ha) whereas the cost with conventional harvesting was Rs.19125/ha. Thus saving of Rs. 7875/ ha i.e., 41 % saving of expenditure on harvesting operation. The comparison of mean grain yield over three years under mechanization was 7354 kg/ha where as under the conventional method, the mean grain yield was 7380 kg/ha which indicated negligible difference. The study concludes that mechanization helps in reducing the cost of cultivation, saving on timeliness and reducing drudgery, and improves farm productivity, thus facilitating realizing the goal of doubling farmer income.