PRESENT STATUS OF AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION: A STUDY ON THREE UPAZILAS OF PANCHAGARH DISTRICT IN BANGLADESH

Nowadays in Bangladesh, farm mechanization is one of the major cause of change in agricultural sector. Due to labor shortage and high wage rate of labor, farmers are compelled to accept farm mechanization. The purpose of the study was to assess the modern agricultural technologies used in Panchagarh district and develop statistical information. The study period was from August 2019 to October 2019. For this study, three places such as Panchagarh Sadar, Boda and Debiganj were selected. Present status was analyzed based on irrigation management system, tillage practices, insect control practices, harvesting and post-harvesting operation, drying and storage facilities for rice production. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the information's of machinery used in selected places. The study revealed that irrigation, land preparation and crop protection was almost mechanized, but mechanization is still lacking in harvesting operation. There were no transplanter, seed drill and fertilizer applicator found in the study areas used by farmers. Crops were still dried through sun drying storage was done by the traditional storage technologies. It is a fact that mechanization is in progress in these areas but need more extension work with modern machineries. The government should develop proper planning by investigating present status of mechanization and improve the present condition by increasing machinery utilization.