Status and Utilization of Tractor Power in Mahakoshal Region, MP, India

Abhay Kumar Sinha¹, Shrivastava AK¹, Gautam AK¹ and Shahid Ahamad^2*

¹Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, College of Agricultural Engineering, JNKVV, Jabalpur (MP), India

²Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Reasi, SKUAST-Jammu, (J&K), India

*Corresponding Author : Shahid Ahamad
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Reasi, SKUASTJammu, (J&K), India
Tel: 9018719944
E-mail: shahid_2056@yahoo.co.in

Received: September 21, 2016 Accepted: August 17, 2017 Published: August 21, 2017

Citation: Sinha AK, Shrivastava AK, Gautam AK, Ahamad S (2017) Status and Utilization of Tractor Power in Mahakoshal Region, MP, India. Vegetos 30:3. doi: 10.5958/2229-4473.2016.00119.1

The farm power and machinery jointly represent the largest single item of expenditure constituting about 60% of the total investment on a farm. Tractor industries play an important role as agriculture sector has major contribution to India’s GDP. There are currently 19 manufactures of tractors in India. Tractors (35 hp) were possessed by 75% of the farmers. The percentage of tractor use for own work was 66 and rest at the time tractors were used for custom work. Maximum use of tractor was found in tillage operations which were 42.30 per cent whereas the minimum use was found in threshing operations which was 3.03 per cent. Average cost of operations of tractor/hour was found to be 227.18. Average cost per hour was 198.66 for small size (15 to 18 KW) of tractor and 432.65 for large size (60 KW) of tractor. Average cost of operation of tractor decreased initially upto age of 4 to 6 years and thereafter it increased with the increase in age. The net cost of operation per hectare decreased with the increase in farm size. The break-even point increased with increase in size of the tractor. Maximum breakeven point was 521 hours. Since average annual use of tractor is 856 hours which is more than break- even point. Therefore the purchase of tractor is profitable in the region..