Reasonable use of agricultural machinery has an extraordinary potential for poverty alleviation by increasing land and labor productivity in Thailand, Vietnam, and even in Bangladesh. This study was conducted under a program entitled “Agriculture Mechanization, Agro-Processing, Value addition and Export Market Development in Thailand and Vietnam from 1–14 November, 20I9” from the Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh. In all three distinct nations, farming activities represent a significant area of activity and remains the biggest wellspring of agricultural business. About 10.5% of Thailand’s, 21.5% of Vietnam’s, and 14.23% of Bangladesh’s GDP come from agriculture. For sustainable development, it is essential to modernize agriculture through the mechanization of its operations, which is therefore inevitable in the studied countries. Thailand’s government started mechanization in 1891 with the import of steam-powered tractor and rotary hoes. Since then the country has witnessed several milestones in the course of mechanization development. The focal plain agro-ecological zone of the state is the maximum and almost fully modernized area. As of now, there are two methods of practicing farming apparatus use: as a proprietor and/or through custom renting provision which coincides with Vietnam and Bangladesh. Historically, mechanization patterns in Vietnam can been described by tillage machinery with associated implement equipment use preceding 1975. This was non-linear, followed by a decreasing trend during the 80s prior to recovery during the 90s, with significant disparities in implementation status across the areas. In 2018, the number of tillage implements and harvesters was boosted about 1.6 and 25.6 times, respectively compared with 2006. The percentage of machinery use in soil tillage operation is 80% of the whole territory of cultivable land in Vietnam, compared to about 90% in Bangladesh and 100% in Thailand. Mechanization in Bangladesh started before independence with the importation of 2-wheel tractors and irrigation pumps in the last part of the 1960s as part of ‘Green Revolution’ activities. To continue this momentum, the Bangladesh Government permitted the continuation of agricultural machinery importation after later autonomy. Machinery use in different agricultural activities has increased in recent years in the areas of irrigation, land preparation, intercultural operation, and threshing. Though its degree of advancement is by and large still quite low contrasted with other South Asian nations, it is noticeable that the most recent two decades, the pace of mechanization has increased rapidly with the increase of mechanical power use in farm activities. The use of farm machinery in rice cultivation has been the most amazing when contrasted with different crops in these three nations. A clear comparison has been given in the paper, which aims to help researchers and policymakers take necessary measures.

Preservation of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) by osmotic dehydration method has been standardized. Four treatments of sugar concentration viz. 35 O , 40 O , 45 O , and 50 O Brix were used for osmotic dehydration. After osmosis of the jackfruit slices in the sugar solutions these were laid on the cabinet drier for dehydration. After osmotic dehydration, the products were packed in high density polyethylene bags and stored in ambient temperature for a period of 8 months. The physico-chemical properties and the microbiological changes of the products were evaluated and a taste panel evaluated the organoleptic quality of the products during the storage period. Minimum microbial count was recorded for osmosis in 50 O Brix sugar solution followed by 45 O Brix sugar solution. The retention of vitamin A (ß-carotene), vitamin C, total acid and total sugar was also better for osmosis in 45 O Brix sugar solution followed by 50 O Brix sugar solution. The product of 45 O Brix solution when stored 8 months at room temperature secured highest score in organoleptic evaluation and was ranked " like moderately" followed by the product of 50 O Brix solution. Considering the overall acceptance of sensory evaluations, retention of nutritional quality and quantity of sugar needed, the osmotic dehydrated jackfruit prepared by 45 0 Brix sugar solution could be selected for commercial processing.

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of packaging materials on the quality and shelf life of green chili (Capsicum annuum) using passive modification of modified atmosphere packaging system. The modified atmosphere was created by making perforation in the polypropylene packets. Green chili pre-treated with chlorine water and then packaging in 0.3% perforated polypropylene packet resulted substantial reduction of weight loss and rotting/shriveling. These treatment combinations also considerably retained vitamin C, ß-carotene, moisture content, etc. Under this condition the retention of quality and shelf life of green chili could be extended up to 10 days at ambient condition as compared to non-treated and without packaging. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v37i4.14397 Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 37(4): 729-736, December 2012

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of packaging materials on the quality and shelf life of country bean (Lablab niger) using passive modification of modified atmosphere packaging system. The modified atmosphere was created by making perforation in the packets made by polypropylene. Bean pre-treated with chlorine water and then packaging in selected polypropylene resulted substantial reduction in losses caused by weight loss and rotting/shriveling. These treatment combinations also considerably retained vitamin C, β-carotene, moisture content, etc. Under this condition, the retention of quality and shelf life of bean could be extended upto 8 days at ambient condition as compared to non-treated and without packaging.