Vol. 8, Issue 10, Part K (2024)

In India, 47% of agricultural operations are mechanized, which is lower compared to developing counterparts like China, with 60%, and Brazil, with 75% farm mechanization. Further, the mechanization levels range between 40-45% in states like Punjab and Haryana while it is negligible in other areas like the north-eastern states of India. In 2023, it was predicted that achieving 75–80 percent mechanization in the country would take approximately 25 years. Advancements in technology are leading to the development of autonomous tractors, drones, robots, and other machinery that can perform a range of farming tasks, from planting and harvesting to soil analysis and crop monitoring. These technologies can help farmers to optimize their resources, reduce labour costs, and increase yields while minimizing environmental impact. One of the most exciting areas of development in future farm mechanization is precision agriculture, which involves using real-time data and analytics to guide decision-making in farming. This can help farmers to optimize their use of resources, such as water and fertilizer, and to tailor their planting and harvesting schedules to maximize yields. Harvesting equipment can include machinery such as grape harvesters, cherry pickers, and citrus harvesters, which are used to pick fruits and vegetables. Similarly, pruning equipment, such as pruning shears and hedge trimmers, are used to shape and maintain the growth of plants, bushes, and trees. Overall, the future of farm mechanization is likely to be driven by a combination of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, the internet of things, and machine learning. By embracing these technologies, farmers can not only improve the efficiency and productivity of their operations but also help to address some of the most pressing challenges facing the global food system.