Farm Equipment companies should initiate awareness campaigns in rural India.

Charity begins at home. There is no escaping this fact and when the time is right universe conspires to bring you face to face with truth. The truth is many villages and farms in India are still ill-equipped with modern and advanced technologies that could make the process from cultivation to harvest smoother and swifter. 

Our team did interactive sessions in discussing the scope of implementation of modern technology in agriculture with a couple of farmers in India. It was an eye-opener to learn that majority of Zamindars/Landlords had given their land on Bataidari to local farmers instead of them being directly involved with the produce in farms. One of the main reason was lack of manpower, and also lack of awareness among people to adapt to modern and advanced farming methods by implementing technology for better results. On further questioning it felt as though the landlord's ego was being pushed to the limit, when he was caught unaware on being asked why were they not implementing modern technology despite being aware of it and having the resources to procure them. One of them was more than happy to mention that in the areas where his in-laws operate they have procured and are using modern farming equipment in a close network of farmer's society where everyone is at a profit and critical health issues related to spine is avoided. However, it was still not clear why were they not implementing the same in their particular village of operation. We even raised questions that Government is giving subsidy and paying major part of the procurement price, apart from the fact that he himself does not need to procure the equipment solely but as a group of "agricultural cooperative". That would further reduce the cost sharing burden, if any. Also, with the use of advanced equipment the work is done swiftly, and fortnight's or a week's task is done in a couple of hours, saving a good number of days for involving the workforce in some other agricultural work. His immediate reply was that we are talking too much and these things don't work around small farms, among other lame excuses which formed no solid base to be debated upon. Though, feeling sad on the sight of farmers toiling in the heat with their spine arched for yards after yards reminded me of the same scene happening year after year, we felt it was our responsibility to speak up and let the landlord know that his workforce will not be left out of job if he went ahead with procuring smaller equipment for smaller farms. There are customized options for all kinds of produce and farm size. That was the end of our discussion but the impact had been created which we got to see the very next day. The landlord and also his peers, rented from a local resident a harvesting equipment for the wheat crop. A total of approximately 2 to 3 sq. kilometres area of wheat crop was harvested in a matter of hours. 

The story does not end here. This is just the beginning. The above mission was accomplished on a larger farm area. Also, people became aware of available harvesting equipment. The challenge is to include advanced agriculture technology at all levels of farming, whether it is about seed germination or packaging the harvest for final processing in mills, which are already operating at an advanced level. One such investment opportunity at local level is in the sieving of wheat grains. Manual labour takes time. When the same job is done with machines the process is swift, easier, there is more sieving done in a day than an entire week, and also the farmers return home happy and without being tired. There is no loss of job as machines need operator(s) and interlinked jobs need to be managed. E.g. having the energy to give more time to taking care of the landlord's cowshed and waste management. 

A few reputed companies involved with manufacturing of advanced agriculture equipment are Deccan Equipments, Tech2Farms, Tafe, among others. It is advisable to consult your regional Agriculture Department and get more information on subsidies and equipment know-hows. Harvesters are the modern marvels and a must for any agricultural cooperative. It is important that Government Bodies functioning at local and village levels take initiatives in making the farmers and landlords aware of the vast opportunities the advanced agriculture technologies hold.

All's gold that grows on soil.

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Note: The views and opinion are of the writer only.