Farmers across the country can purchase farm machinery designed to suit the country’s agricultural landscape. The Agriculture Machinery Centre (AMC) is currently demonstrating such machines to farmers in various districts. In Bumthang, farmers feel these machines could be extremely beneficial but say they are a bit expensive.
The machines are for sowing tubers and roots such as potatoes, ginger and turmeric, making beds, laying plastic mulch, and harvesting the tubers and roots among others.
While the other machines are fabricated by the AMC, the potato harvester and planters are imported. And most of these machines have to be attached to tractors.
The price for the machines ranges from Nu 6,500 to about Nu 47,000. The machines fabricated at the centre are cheaper compared to the imported ones.
During the demonstration in Chhoekhor Gewog, most farmers found the potato planter and the mulching machines useful. However, most of them want machines designed for power tillers.
“It will be difficult for us to afford the machines which have to be attached to tractors. It would benefit the farmers if the government could support those who have large landholdings,” said Pema Tshering, a resident of Jalikhar. “The mulching machine would make our life a lot easier but it has to be fabricated for power tillers so that we can afford it.”
“The potato planter will be very useful in a place like Bumthang but it would be difficult for farmers to afford it,” said Dawathang-Dorjibi-Kashingtsawa Tshogpa Pema Tshomo. “It would help if the centre could hire out the machine for a few years.”
The AMC’s Agriculture Engineer, Pema Lham, at the demonstration said the machines can be tailored for power tillers. Moreover, planters with automated seeders are also available at the centre’s head office in Paro. The Farm Machinery Corporation or FMCL will carry out all the marketing works.
Farm machinery demonstrations are part of the AMC’s annual work plan.
“The main purpose of this programme is to make the farmers aware of the available machines which are made within the country and also the imported ones,” she said. “So through this programme, we really hope that the farmers are made aware and also they will adopt technologies in their field which will increase their productivity and also enhance farm mechanization in the country.”
The country’s farm mechanization status currently stands at around 23 per cent in land preparation as per the centre’s record.
Though the agriculture sector is still the largest employer in the country with over 49 per cent of the total employed persons, it continues to be challenged by the loss of soil fertility, rural-urban migration and limited technology adoption among others. Moreover, slopes and rough terrain make farm mechanization very challenging. Despite various efforts by the agriculture ministry, mechanizing the agriculture sector fully still has a long way to go.
Kipchu, Bumthang
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
