Challenges and Prospects of Farm Mechanization in Pakistan: A Case Study of Rural Farmers in District Peshawar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Sanaullah1*, Abdul Basit2 and Inayat Ullah3
ABSTRACT
The current study assessed the mechanization challenges and scenario prevailing in rural area of district Peshawar of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan. This study employed a multi stage sampling technique to gather data on the socio-economic features of the farmers and available machinery. A total of 240 rural farmers were randomly selected from two local union councils of provincial government Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Peshawar. The accumulated data were analysed using mean and standard deviation with an acceptance mean value of ≥3.00 and estimating logit model. Socio demographic features revealed that majority (52%) were in middle age group of 41-50 years, 64% were literate, while 68% respondents had farming as their income source and land owners were 64% with small landholding (46%). The study exposed that illiteracy of the respondents (4.10), et al system (3.98), lack of trained machinery operators (4.27), access of roads to the farm (4.45), adequate capital (4.00) and costly inputs (3.80) were some of the challenges plaguing the use of agricultural mechanization in the rural area. It was established that agricultural mechanization has significant role in boosting farm productivity, improving farmers’ livelihood, ensuring economic growth, availability of off-seasonal farm produce, increasing income generating opportunities and reduction in time of operation among others. Logistic Regression indicated a highly significant (p<0.01) positive effect of key determinants including; income source (0.008), farm size (0.001), farming experience (0.004), extension visits (0.009), access to credit (0.002) and access to agricultural machines (0.006) on farm mechanization adoption. The study emphasized that government may make agricultural mechanization and farming resources available and reachable to the farmers in order to persuade farmers in using them to maximize production, arrange awareness trainings and subsidize costly agricultural inputs.
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