Change in the Socio-economic Status of Farmers through the Use of Agricultural Machinery

Abstract

This study examines the socio-economic changes among farmers in Rajbari District, Bangladesh, due to the adoption of agricultural machinery. Data collected from 30 farmers revealed significant improvements in farming efficiency, income, and social status after the introduction of mechanized farming equipment. Fifteen years ago, farming activities such as tillage, weeding, seeding, harvesting, threshing, and irrigation were mainly done manually or with basic tools. However, today, 100% of farmers use power tillers (compared to just 16.66% previously), 56.67% use reapers (up from 0%), 86.67% use threshers (from 10%), and 66.67% now use rice transplanters and combine harvesters (both previously at 0%). As a result of mechanization, farmers' income has risen significantly, demonstrating the positive impact on their financial status. Moreover, the study found that mechanization has enhanced farmers' social standing and respect within their communities. Despite these advances, the adoption of mechanized tools is still uneven, especially in non-rice crop production and post-harvest processing. The research highlights the importance of continued government support, including subsidies and policies, to encourage the widespread use of agricultural machinery. Additionally, further improvements in infrastructure are needed to facilitate the use of larger machinery, such as combine harvesters, across all farming areas in Bangladesh.