The Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers
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Why KVKs Shouldn’t Be Compared to IITs and IIMs - And Why They Deserve Far More Respect
No full textRandom Thoughts Triggered by Emotions Recently, I came across a post that argued for transforming Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) into institutions like IITs and IIMs. While I appreciate the enthusiasm for reform and excellence in Indian institutions, the comparison is fundamentally flawed — not only because it misunderstands the role of KVKs, but because it undervalues what they’ve already accomplished over the past five decades. Let’s unpack this properly
Agriculture: The Cornerstone of Holistic and Sustainable Development for a Viksit Bharat
No full textIndia, a land rich in tradition, culture, and diversity, has always held agriculture at the heart of its economy and societal structure. As the nation envisions Viksit Bharat — a developed, inclusive, and self-reliant India by 2047 — the significance of agriculture cannot be overstated. Agriculture is not merely a sector; it is the backbone of rural livelihoods, food security, and ecological balance. By integrating sustainable agricultural practices and promoting holistic rural development, India can chart a path toward inclusive growth, environmental stability, and long-term prosperity
Agricultural Engineering: Balancing Mechanization with Animal Health in Rural Livestock Farming
No full textINTRODUCTION
Agricultural mechanization has played a transformative role in modernizing rural farming, bringing increased efficiency and productivity to both crop production and animal husbandry. The labor-intensive parts of farming have greatly decreased with the advent of machinery like tractors, harvesters, and automated feeding systems, allowing farmers to manage bigger expanses of land and more cattle with fewer resources. Mechanization has increased agricultural production and made farming more financially viable, especially in rural areas where traditional methods are more common
Effect of Seed Plate Angle, Cell Size, and Speed Ratio on the Performance of a Bullock-Drawn Millet Planter
No full textMillets are typically sown by broadcasting and drilling methods by using traditional implements. This often results in non-uniform seed distribution, leading to irregular spacing and uneven number of plants. Additionally, line sowing, as compared with broadcasting, improves the efficiency of harvesting and threshing operations. In regions with small farm holdings, bullock drawn planter is a great alternative to take care of above-mentioned conditions. Thus, laboratory evaluation of bullock drawn planter was carried out using a stationary seed plate with agitator shaft as a metering mechanism. For millet seeds, a test rig was utilized to assess the effectiveness of seed metering in a laboratory condition at three distinct speed ratios (1.0, 1.5, and 2.0), cell sizes (3, 4, and 5 mm), and seed plate angle (0º, 15º, and 30º). The uniformity coefficient, multiple index, missing index, and quality of feed index were used as indicators to assess the planter\u27s performance. At a speed ratio of 1.5, the uniformity coefficient was highest with a 5.0 mm cell size and a 0° seed plate angle. The missing index was higher at a seed plate angle of 30º and a cell size of 3.0 mm at a speed ratio of 2.0, whereas multiple index was higher at a 30º seed plate inclination angle and a 5 mm cell size at a speed ratio of 1.0. At a seed plate angle of 0º and a cell size of 5 mm, the highest quality feed index and seed rate were achieved, although the speed ratios were 1.5 and 1.0, respectively. Field evaluation of bullock-drawn millet planter, showed optimum speed ratio, cell size and seed plate angle of 1.5, 3 mm and 0º, respectively. It was found that the millet planter\u27s effective field capacity and field efficiency were 0.24 ha h-1 and 85.7%, respectively. The bullock-drawn planter\u27s break-even point and operating cost were determined to be 40.56 hours annually and Rs. 694.00 per hour, respectively. The developed planter enhances efficiency by reducing manual labour and ensuring more precise seed placement
Energy Analysis of Wheat Sown With Different Farm Machineries for Rice Residue Management in Punjab
No full textThe study evaluated seven wheat establishment systems sown with different farm machineries following in-situ and ex-situ rice residue management. System I, II and III utilized super straw management with combine harvester followed by wheat sowing with the PAU smart seeder (PSS), turbo happy seeder (THS) and super seeder (SS), respectively. System IV involved in-situ rice residue incorporation using mulcher, mould board, rotavator operation, planking and seed drilling, while System V employed in-situ wet mixing of rice residue involving the operation of mulcher and rotavator followed by seed drill operation. System VI followed ex-situ approach including the operation of stubble shaver, baler, rotavator and seed drilling. System VII represented the conventional method of wheat sowing after paddy residue burning. The study aimed to assess the optimization of energy use and sustainability of these systems in wheat establishment. The results revealed that zero-tillage wheat sowing with PAU Smart Seeder (PSS) and Turbo Happy Seeder (THS) after harvesting of paddy with Super SMS attached combine harvester was most efficient, with operational costs of Rs. 3612 ha-1 and Rs. 3630 ha-1, respectively. These systems recorded the lowest energy use (17,268.72 MJ ha-1 for THS and 17,4777.04 MJ ha-1 for PSS, respectively) and energy ratios (Er) of 5.87 (PSS) and 5.92 (THS). THS showed the lowest carbon footprints (1075.03 kg CO2 equivalent ha-1 and 150.22 kg CO2 equivalent t-1), with highest carbon efficiency (Ce) and sustainability index (CSI), reflecting greater biomass production and reduced emissions from avoiding residue burning and tillage. In-situ dry mixing of rice residue requires repeated tillage and multiple tractor passes for chopping, mixing and incorporation of rice residue, thus significantly increasing energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and operational costs as compared to direct drilling of wheat with PSS and THS with paddy residue retention. Therefore, adopting wheat cultivation with PSS and THS for effective rice residue management represented a viable alternative for enhancing energy productivity in the rice-wheat cropping system
Viksit Krishi for Viksit Bharat
No full textExecutive Summary This roadmap sets forth a comprehensive strategy to transform Indian agriculture into a highly mechanized, automated, and sustainable sector by 2047. It underscores the urgent need to address current structural constraints— ranging from soil degradation and water scarcity to limited financial access and digital inequities—while capitalizing on emerging opportunities in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, the Internet of Things (IoT), and renewable energy
Renewable Energy: A New Paradigm for Growth of the Indian Agriculture
No full textAgriculture has historically been the backbone of India’s economy, supporting the livelihoods of nearly half the population and contributing significantly to national food security. However, for decades, the sector has grappled with persistent challenges— erratic monsoons, depleting groundwater, rising input costs, diesel dependency, post-harvest losses, and the looming threat of climate change. As India strives for sustainable and inclusive growth, renewable energy has emerged as a transformative force capable of reshaping the agricultural landscape. The integration of clean and green energy technologies marks a new paradigm—one that enhances productivity, reduces costs, empowers farmers, and builds resilience against environmental uncertainties
Renewable Energy for Agriculture Growth
No full textAgriculture mechanization and end night for diesel? Farm mechanization has significantly boosted Indian farmers’ efficiency and global competitiveness. Since independence, progress has been considerable, with mechanical and electrical sources now dominating 95% of the total farm power of 3.13 kW/ha, replacing traditional methods. However, the overall farm mechanization level remains at 47%. A heavy reliance on diesel persists, with tractors and engines contributing 76% of mechanical power and the sector consuming about 13% of the nation’s diesel. As India aims for 4.0 kW/ ha by 2030 to meet food demands, a critical question emerges: is this the end for the diesel engine, and can Indian agriculture shift to electricity? The progress is moving towards a fully electric future
Renewable Energy for Economic Viability
No full textIndia’s agricultural backbone are the smallholder farmers, who possess less than 2 hectares of land, and account for 86% of the landholdings. 65% of these smallholders grow cereal crops like paddy, wheat, and maize. For these crops, irrigation and farm mechanization have significant energy input costs in the form of electricity and diesel consumption. For water-intensive crops like paddy farmers rely on a combination of grid electricity and diesel pumps. Maize farmers rely on diesel-powered dryers post-harvest to dry quickly and reduce losses. Tractors are used for land preparation and also for local transport. At a national level, these farm machinery consume 13% of diesel in retail and direct sales combined (PPAC, 2013). India is among the countries with more than six peak sun hours per day With such a reliable supply of solar (renewable) energy, it is possible to complement and reduce the diesel consumption in agriculture over the next few decades
जब मशाल बुझ जाती है: भारत में दूरदर्शी नेतृत्व का मौन अवनयन
No full textजब मशाल बुझ जाती है: भारत में दूरदर्शी नेतृत्व का मौन अवनय