Mechanization Status, Promotional Activities and Government Strategies of Thailand and Vietnam in Comparison to Bangladesh

Abstract

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.

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“…Local manufacturers contributed to this growth by providing access to affordable threshers, irrigation pumps and engine spare parts that led to widespread use (Kienzle et al, 2013). In addition, spare parts were locally manufactured to meet rising needs of various agricultural equipment in use (Hossen et al, 2020). Focusing on meeting local demand, manufacturers across the country worked in tandem with national research institutions to ensure prototypes met the needs of farmers (Soni & Ou, 2010).…”

“…Local manufacturers contributed to this growth by providing access to affordable threshers, irrigation pumps and engine spare parts that led to widespread use (Kienzle et al, 2013). In addition, spare parts were locally manufactured to meet rising needs of various agricultural equipment in use (Hossen et al, 2020).…”

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“…Mechanized transplanting has demonstrated advantages for irrigated lowland rice with yields reported to be 7% higher compared to l manual transplanting, as well as having lower production costs 29,30 . Mechanized transplanting is currently at an early stage of adoption in the MRD 31 . There are available options for crop establishment, but a major research gap is quantitative data on the best approach in terms of sustainability.…”