Crops are plants that are grown and harvested by farmers for profit or subsistence. Crops are essential for the survival of both animals and humans. Agriculture is the branch of science that deals with the study of crop cultivation and cattle rearing. Crops are harvested and used as food for humans or fodder for livestock. Grains, vegetables, and fruits are examples of crops. It also includes macroscopic fungi such as mushrooms and algae. Crops are also classified by season in developing countries such as India. Monsoon and winter are the two sowing seasons.
Agricultural Implements
In the agricultural industry, implements are tools that are used to make a task simpler and easier. To create an efficient and productive environment, agricultural activities in modern times use a variety of tools such as drills, hoes, ploughs, sickles, and so on.
- Without the use of the implements that are essentially required to carry out these practises, the world today appears to be moving at a snail’s pace in the agricultural field.
- The use of the tools is extremely visible in the countries, particularly where the population is primarily dependent on farming for a living.
- It should also be noted that different countries’ organic and non-organic farming practices continue to rely on a wide range of equipment.
- Agricultural implements are the tools and processes required to carry out the labour-intensive process of agriculture.
- Agriculture requires the use of tools such as a sickle, plough, hoe, drills, and so on. Organic and non-organic farming practices are made possible by various agricultural methods.
- Farmers’ physical labour has decreased significantly since the invention of agricultural tools.
Farmers used to have to rely on physical labour and handcrafted tools to get agricultural output, but after industrialization, technological advancements replaced traditional tools with advanced machines, which not only increased overall crop production but also changed the way farmers worked in the field. Traditional agricultural methods require a lot of work and time. The implements are in high demand and are widely used because the farming practices are difficult and involve heavy labour as well as a variety of procedures that are nearly impossible to do and complete by hand.
As a result, tools and machinery have become essential for completing tasks in a timely manner. After the industrial revolution, the development and excessive use of such small machines or tools reached a climax. This era saw a significant advancement in agricultural practises, with the combination of simple farming methods and complex machines, each complemented by the other. Machines begin to replace the use of hands for harvesting grains with sharp blades around this time. The invention of the tractor at the end of the nineteenth century revolutionised the concept of using implements.
Types of Agricultural Implement
Agricultural implements of various types are used in farming at various stages of crop production and management. Humans have created specialised machines for every task, from field preparation to crop harvesting and storage. Among these tools are the following:
- Irrigation Machinery – It includes a pump for extracting water from the ground. A sprinkler system with perpendicular pipes and a rotating nozzle, as well as a drip irrigation piping system, are examples of modern irrigation tools. These two modern systems are critical in conserving water while providing adequate water to the plants.
- Harvesting Implements- Harvesters are used to cut mature crops that were previously cut with a sickle or other agricultural tools. After harvesting the crops from the field, another machine known as the combine harvester is used for threshing. Trailers, pickers, and diggers are among the other machines used.
- Planting Machines- Following soil cultivation, these are used to plant seeds and saplings over a large land area. This is accomplished through the use of broadcast seeders, precision drills, air seeders, seed drills, transplanting equipment, and other similar tools.
- Implements for Soil Cultivation- These tools or machines are responsible for ploughing the soil and preparing it for cultivation. Some examples of this type of implement include drag, spike, and disc harrows.
- Other Agricultural Implements- Aside from the tools and machines mentioned above, there are several other types of equipment that are found to be useful in the harvesting process, such as shredding, loading, and haymaking, among others.
Agricultural Tools
- Plough: It is typically made of wood and is drawn by two bulls. Since ancient times, it has been used for tiling, stirring the soil, and applying fertilisers. A plough shaft, which is a long wooden log, is used to construct it. It is equipped with a ploughshare, which is a powerful triangular iron strip. The other end is attached to a beam, which is then wrapped around the bull’s neck. Iron ploughs, however, have replaced wooden ploughs, and it is now drawn by tractors.
- Hoe: Hoes have been used for cultivation since ancient times. It is made of a long wooden rod that is pulled by the animals. It is dragged by animals and is used to loosen the soil and remove weeds. Furthermore, it has a strong, broad, bent iron plate that serves as a blade.
- Traditional tools: The traditional seed-sowing tool is shaped like a funnel. The funnel is full of seeds. The seeds are fed through two or three sharp-ended pipes. These ends are inserted into the soil, where the seeds are planted. Farmers use traditional agricultural implements such as a sickle, spade, and axe. It is a time-consuming and labour-intensive agricultural practice.
- Seed drill: This is used for planting seeds. It is assisted by tractors and ensures that the seeds are sown evenly and are properly covered with soil. It promotes plant growth by ensuring that they receive the maximum amount of sunlight, nutrients, and water from the soil.
- Cultivator: A cultivator is a plough connected to a tractor. This reduces labour and saves time. It agitates the soil surrounding the growing crop to promote growth and weed control.
- Indian Agricultural implements market: The Indian agricultural tools market is expected to be worth nearly US$ 10.4 billion in 2020. India has made significant advances in agricultural equipment over the last few decades. During the time of independence, Indian farmers used animal-drawn equipment (such as bullock-drawn ploughs and wooden planks) and hand tools (such as spades, pick axes, crowbars, sickles, and choppers) for pulverisation, compaction, and smoothening.
Importance of Agricultural Implements in India
- In place of manual labour- One of the primary advantage of agricultural equipment is its ability to replace physical labour. Despite having one of the world’s largest populations, labour shortages have affected all sectors of the economy.
- Agriculture Technique Advancements- Agricultural tools can also help with irrigation, land reclamation, and soil erosion prevention. Ploughing with a tractor, for example, reclaims more ground and thus increases the cultivated area by smoothing out hillocks, filling depressions and gullies, and eradicating deep-rooted weeds.
- High levels of productivity and efficiency- Agricultural equipment increases output, efficiency, and productivity per person. Mechanization increases land yield per unit area while decreasing labour costs, resulting in better land utilisation and thus higher agricultural revenue.
- Cost Savings in the Long Run- Purchasing agricultural tools necessitates a significant initial capital outlay. When compared to physical labour and work animals, they appear to be more cost-effective over time.
- An increase in custom-implemented hiring- Agriculture tools is expensive in terms of capital, which may deter many small-scale farmers from purchasing them. Furthermore, farmers with small landholdings do not find it financially feasible to invest in their own agricultural tools.
Advantages
- Human labour has been reduced by orders of magnitude.
- When implements are used, less labour is required.
- These tools boost overall earnings.
- Increases the growth of agricultural industries that manufacture these machines.
- It reduces the cost of labour while also saving time and money.
- They contribute to more efficient crop production.
- Agricultural equipment is a one-time purchase.
FAQs on Agricultural Implements
Question 1: What exactly are agricultural implements?
Answer:
Agricultural implements are the tools used to carry out agricultural practices. A variety of agricultural implements are used in today’s farming activities. These implements are classified into five major categories.
Question 2: What are two examples of agricultural implements?
Answer:
- Irrigation Implements – It includes pump units and centre pivot irrigation systems. It aids in crop watering at the proper levels.
- Implements for Soil Cultivation -These are used to prepare the soil for cultivation by ploughing it. For example, disc harrows, spikes, drag, and so on.
Question 3: What happened to agricultural implements after industrialization?
Answer:
As a result of rapid industrialization and technological advancements, humans have been able to create newer and larger machines. These devices reduce the need for physical labour and simplify agricultural tasks. These machines are critical in the modern, scientific world of agriculture. Tractors and advanced harvesters transformed the way farmers worked in the fields. Farmers can now work more professionally thanks to technological advances. Working in the fields is no longer a strenuous and exhausting activity with these devices.
Question 4: What are the benefits of agricultural implements?
Answer:
- Reduces manual labour and physical workload; additionally, agricultural implements require less labour.
- The use of more machines increases the growth of agricultural industries.
- Increased output leads to an increase in overall income.
- Less time-consuming and less expensive.
- The machines and tools are a one-time purchase that will be used for a long time.
Question 5: What kind of farming equipment do Indian farmers use?
Answer:
The farming equipment that Indian farmers utilise is antiquated and rudimentary. The area is ploughed and tilled with bullock carts. Due to their financial situation, they employ simple implements. Indian farmers rarely employ modern equipment like tractors and sprinklers. Indian farmers practise subsistence agriculture just for personal consumption. Only a small number of farmers grow cash crops that produce good returns.