Village Level Impact of Machine Threshing and Implications for Technology Development in Semi-Arid Tropical India

摘要

To assess the actual need for and impact of mechanical threshing in the semi-arid tropics, a study was conducted in rural Kanzara, India. Results of that research, presented herein, indicate that widespread diffusion of machine threshing has had only a minimal impact on agricultural costs, cropping methods, and the labor market. The authors trace the rapidly expanding use of mechanical threshers and discuss the role of these threshers in cost reduction, profitability, and price determination. The authors conclude that diversified crop production limits the scope for and the impact of mechanical threshing throughout semi-arid tropical India.