Small farm mechanization systems development, （小农场机械化系统开发,）.pdfVIP

FFTC Annual Report 2005 13 Improving small-farm productivity through appropriate machineries Small farm mechanization systems development, adoption and utilization IN MANY PARTS of Asia, small farms remain at the center of agriculture and rural development. However, one of the main causes for the low agricultural productivity in most developing countries in the region is the lack of appropriate machineries that cater to and suit the requirements of small-scale farms. For this reason, many small farms are deemed as unproductive and inefficient. Farm mechanization plays a significant role in every nations economy. However, it is often misconstrued to mean modernization, beneficial only to industrialized countries with highly mechanized agriculture. Developing countries often have to rely on a variety of imported farm machines, which are seldom appropriate for small farms. In many parts of the Asian region, the most pressing need is to feed a growing human population. This requires sustaining food production, which can be realized by increasing land and labor efficiency in agriculture through farm mechanization. This international workshop challenged conventional notions by addressing issues concerning the development and utilization of small farm mechanization systems and technologies for the greater benefit of small-scale farmers. The activity provided a venue for the sharing of practical application of existing systems and technologies, as well as of strategies that will be most effective in tackling the very complex socioeconomic and environmental factors influencing the adoption and utilization of small farm machineries. Topics included: status and directions of small farm mechanization in the Asian and Pacific region; factors influencing the succ