A CASE STUDY ON THE MECHANISATION OF WHEAT CULTIVATION IN BANGLADESH

摘要

The case study assumes that decisions about mechanisation may be analysed as problems in demand and supply. In the case of crop production, the demand side of the equation is determined by the requirements of the crop, which are ultimately dictated by its genome. These demands are quite specific with regard to time of planting, nutrient and water requirements, stages of development and the time taken to reach maturity. For management purposes, these needs can be quantified using a crop simulation model. The answers on the supply side lie in the type of husbandry that is proposed to meet the needs of the crop. In growing wheat, which is a relatively new crop in Bangladesh, the time available for seed-bed preparation is severely limited. In order to assess the prospects for mechanising the planting phase, three proposals for seed-bed preparation based on oxen, tractors and power tillers are compared by estimating firstly the number needed to complete the task within a set period and then the cost of each proposal. Oxen were found to be the most expensive solution and power tillers the cheapest.