Agricultural Mechanization in Assam, India: A Comprehensive Study and Key Determinants

Abstract

Agricultural mechanization refers to the use of machinery in farming to enhance production, productivity and efficiency. In India, the evolution of agricultural mechanization is a story of gradual progress shaped by socio-economic conditions, technological advancements, and government policies. Assam is predominantly an agro-based economy where the agriculture sector provides a huge amount of income along with generation of employment to the rural population, and also shares a significant contribution to the state’s GDP. The study was conducted during April 2022 to December 2023 focussing on evaluation of status of agricultural mechanization in three major districts of Assam viz. Nagaon, Golaghat, and Jorhat with key determinant using both the primary and secondary data with the help of LOGIT regression method. The findings of the study reveal that younger farmers were more inclined to adopt mechanization, as indicated by the negative coefficient for age (-0.03). On the other hand, the positive coefficient for education (0.04) confirmed that mechanization was more widely adopted by farms with relatively educated farmers. The age was a barrier to mechanization adoption, while a positive association was observed between landholding size and the adoption of mechanization. The present status of agricultural mechanization is not sufficient to enhance the level of agricultural production. There remains considerable scope for implementation of agricultural mechanization.