| Abstract | This study was undertaken to develop mathematical models for selecting optimum system of farm machinery for four different levels of mechanization.
These four levels are:
1 . Farm with all crop land irrigated by Persian Wheel and having man and animal power sources only.
2. Farm using an electric motor to power an irrigation pump and other stationary machines, and using man and animal power for all other production activities.
3. Farm having a tractor and using it to power an irrigation pump and other stationary machines along with tillage and transportation activities.
4. Farm having a tractor and using it mainly for tillage and transportation activities, and having an electric motor to power an irrigation pump and other stationary machines.
The computer programs for all the models were developed and written in FORTRAN IV language. The programs select the optimum size of power source, implements, pump and other stationary machines, namely, thresher, sheller and cane crusher. To demonstrate the utility of the machinery selection programs, a simple, realistic but hypothetical problem was constructed. The
system output for each level of mechanization is also presented. In addition to the optimum size of each farm equipment, system output also includes the
information such as working hours; fixed, operating, timeliness and total cost; and energy required for every farm operation. The appropriate levels of mechanization in relation to size of farm (crop rotation: Maize - Wheat), for Ludhiana district of Punjab, India, were determined by comparing the least cost system for each level of mechanization for farms varying in size from one to twenty hectares. It was found that first
level of mechanization was most economical for farms upto 2.1 hectares in size while for farms varying from 2.1 to 6.4 hectares in size, second level of
mechanization was most economical for farms of 6.4 hectares or larger. Third level of mechanization was not economical for any farm size, however, in the absence of fourth level of mechanization, it was economical to adopt third
level of mechanization for farm sizes of 7 hectares or larger. In real farming situation, the limits set on farm sizes for appropriate level of mechanization may overlap as the farming practices adopted for a particular size
of farm in different situations often vary. |