Socio-economic Impact of Farm Mechanization on the Regional Economy of South India: Case of Paddy Farmers of Trichy, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Farm mechanisation has a potential to improve the efficiency, productivity and cost-effective paddy cultivation while reducing the labour-intensive traditional methods which hinders timely farm operations. This study aims to analyse effect of farm mechanization on socio-economic condition of the farmers of Cauvery Delta Zone in Trichy district of Tamil Nadu. Based on the access to canal water, urbanisation and availability of non-farm opportunity, four blocks in Trichy district were selected. Two villages from each block were randomly selected. Fifty respondents from two villages and fifty-five respondents from two villages (total 210) randomly selected and data collected through personal interviews. Results revealed that majority of the paddy farmers (67%) with medium usage of machinery followed by (18%) of high level of utilization and (15%) with low level of utilization of machineries. In addition, the impact of mechanization studied under four components namely, crop specific, labour, social and economic impact and the results have clearly exhibited significant positive impact on paddy cultivators.