Top 10 Useful Farm Equipment Every Small Farmer Should Have

Agricultural equipment plays an essential role in maximising the productivity of small farmers. As India is primarily an agrarian nation, small-scale farms also play a crucial role in contributing to the overall agricultural output. To maximise productivity and efficiency, small-scale farmers rely on various types of farm equipment. In this blog, we will explore some of the commonly used small-scale farm equipment in India.

What is Agricultural Equipment?

Agricultural equipment refers to various types of machinery, tools, and implements used in agricultural activities. Farm equipment includes machines used to till, plant, fertilise, harvest, and process crops. It also includes equipment used to tend to livestock, such as feeding, cleaning, and milking machinery. Many farm implements are handheld and powered by manual labour, while others are powered by fuel or electricity. The type of agricultural and farm equipment used depends on the size of the farm and the specific tasks required.

Why Do Small-scale Farmers Use Agricultural Equipment?

Small-scale farmers use farm equipment for various reasons. One of the main reasons is that it helps them improve their efficiency and productivity in their farming activities, allowing them to increase crop yields and save time and labour. Additionally, small-scale farmers use agricultural equipment to manage their limited resources effectively.

Handheld and fuel-powered tools have replaced manual labour, making farming easier and more efficient. Furthermore, increased access to farm equipment has led to small-scale farmers shifting from subsistence farming to market-oriented production, which has led to increased income and better livelihoods. 

Lastly, the use of modern farm technology has proven effective in increasing work satisfaction among farmers.

Now let's move on to learn the most useful agricultural equipment used by small-scale farmers in India and their uses:

1. Tractors

Tractors are the backbone of agriculture in India. For small-scale farmers, mini tractors are popular due to their manoeuvrability and affordability. These tractors are suitable for tasks like ploughing, tilling, and hauling. From carrying agricultural loads to using implements, a tractor does it all. The most important and useful machines in your agricultural operations also prove to be an asset for the farmers. 

2. Cultivator

A cultivator helps you loosen the soil and prepare it for sowing seed by creating seed beds. It can also help you to get rid of weeds, but only before planting

3. Combine Harvester & Thresher

Combine harvesters cut and collect crops with less manual labour. It is used in harvesting through three processes: reaping, threshing, and winnowing. A high-quality harvester will bring you greater returns with less effort.

Small-scale farmers use threshers to separate grains or seeds from harvested crops. Manual or small-scale mechanical threshers are used to separate grains from cereal crops like wheat, rice, and maize. A combine harvester performs reaping, threshing, and winnowing in one step, while a thresher only separates grains from the harvested crop.

4. Seeder & Planter

Seeders and planters are used to sow seeds precisely and uniformly. They ensure proper plant spacing and seeding depth, saving time and effort. Seeders and planters are available in manual or small-scale mechanical versions, suitable for small-scale farms.

5. Sprayer

Sprayers help you apply herbicides, fertilisers, pesticides, insecticides, and compost to your farm. There are many types of sprayers present in the market, like ATV, boom, boomless, etc.

6. Rotavator

A rotavator is a tractor-mounted implement used for seedbed preparation, cutting the land and levelling it.

7. Plough

Ploughs are used to prepare the land before sowing seeds. They break up and turn over the soil, making it suitable for planting. Small-scale farmers can use animal-drawn or tractor-mounted ploughs depending on their resources and needs. It works by loosening the first soil layer to receive fresh air and new nutrients from the soil, preparing it for the next crop.

Moreover, ploughing also enables the farmers to remove unnecessary vegetation on the surface. When the soil is ploughed properly, it removes the weeds and dead vegetation, ensuring the soil is well-structured for sowing seedlings or plantations. 

8. Power Tiller

One of the best agricultural equipment is power tillers, which are smaller and lighter compared to tractors, making them ideal for small-scale farming. They are primarily used for land preparation, cultivation, and weeding. Power tillers are efficient, cost-effective, and require less maintenance. 

9. Reaper

A reaper is farm equipment used for harvesting crops. It goes across the field using sharp blades or cutters to slice through crop stalks, effectively gathering the chopped crops into bundles or rows for further processing, like threshing or winnowing.

10. Backhoe Loader

A backhoe loader is a hydraulic agricultural equipment used with a tractor to make holes in the ground. Crawlers, dragline backhoes, suction backhoes, skid backhoes, and long-reach backhoes are available in the market. 

Conclusion

Small-scale farmers in India employ a wide range of farm equipment to enhance productivity, reduce labour, and improve efficiency. From tractors and power tillers to rotavators, irrigation equipment, and harvesting tools, each equipment serves a specific purpose in the agricultural cycle. By utilising these types of equipment, small-scale farmers can contribute significantly to India's agricultural growth.

Tractor Gyan: Implement Information Centre

Tractor Gyan is an information centre that contains details concerning tractors and farming equipment, as well as other agricultural solutions. It is a knowledge hub for farmers to learn about the best models of tractors, implements, as well as best practices to improve the efficiency and productivity of farming. Tractor Gyan supports informed decision-making as “jankari sahi, milegi yahi.”