Small farm mechanization to reduce drudgery of farm women in rainfed agriculture

Abstract

A new Agriculture Partnership between US and India to achieve Ever Green Revolution to address Global Food Security was announced during the State visit of US President Mr. Barak Obama to India in November 2010. The effort included Triangular Cooperation adapting technological advances and innovative solutions to address Food Security Challenges in Africa. This pilot stage focused on three African Countries i.e., Kenya, Liberia and Malawi with potential to expand throughout the African Continent in future. Consequently, National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad and National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (NIAM), Jaipur conducted 7 training programs covering 219 executives from Kenya, Liberia & Malawi. Participants Surveys were conducted in Kenya, Liberia & Malawi to assess the impact of training programs. Results were beyond expectations. Due to the success of first seven training programs, there have been considerable enthusiasms from the prospective Executives from Africa and Asia to participate in the training program. As a result, USAID and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Govt. of India identified 17 additional countries and designated as Feed the Future; India Triangular Training Program which was launched on 25th July, 2016 at New Delhi. During the program period until 2020, around 1400 Agricultural professionals will be trained in Africa and Asia in phased manner. The program will conduct 32, fifteen days training courses (excluding travel period) at select Indian institutions for 25 participants in each programme. In addition 12 Nos. ten days duration trainings (excluding travel period), in selected partner countries in Africa and Asia, for up to 50 participants per programme. Each course module will focus on themes or sub sectors in which Indian institutions of reputed or have demonstrated comparative advantage to offer such trainings and ensure that it effectively responds to the target countries’ capacity gaps. This approach is designed to respond to the needs of target countries based on the Demand Analysis carried out at the beginning of this program. Based on the demand analyzed, it was identified that Mechanization of small farms has been a major challenge for developing countries. Farm mechanization is essential to sustain the interest of small farmers. Accordingly ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering was selected as a training institute based on the extraordinary works undertaken by the institute in the field of Farm mechanization.