There is no alternative to modernization and mechanization of agriculture to ensure food security in the global economic recession. 12 categories of machinery are being distributed in Haor and Coastal areas with 70 per cent subsidy and 50 per cent subsidy in plains through Agricultural Mechanization Scheme through Integrated Management. Category 12 machines are combine harvesters, reapers and reaper binders, rice transplanters, seeder/bed planters, power threshers, maize shellers, power sprayers, power weeders, dryers, potato diggers and potato chips making machines.
So far, a total of 25,165 agricultural machines have been distributed under the scheme, out of which 7256 are combine harvesters. These agricultural machines are changing the life of agriculture and farmers. Tariq Mahmudul Islam, project director of the 'Agriculture Mechanization through Integrated Management' project, agriculturist, said these things recently.
The project director also said that during Ropa Amon season, the amount of cultivated land in Bangladesh is 57 lakh 30 thousand 764.2 hectares. The amount of land harvested by combine harvesters is 6 lakh 42 thousand 870.51 hectares which is 11.22% of the total cultivated land.
The amount of saving to the farmer in harvesting paddy by combine harvester is about Tk 549 crore 21 lakh. Harvesting of paddy by combine harvesters has prevented about 2 lakh 18 thousand tons of grain wastage with a market value of about Tk 570 crore 20 lakh. The total amount of money saved by farmers in the use of combine harvesters during the planting season in Bangladesh is about Tk 1119 crore 41 lakhs.
Talking to the project director, Mr. Tariq Mahmudul Islam, it is known that 11 thousand 800 taka is spent in cutting, threshing and threshing 1 acre of land by laborers in the traditional method. Harvesting, threshing and threshing of 1 acre of land through combine harvester costs only 6 thousand rupees (all costs included). That is, the profit per acre of land through combine harvester is 5 thousand 800 taka. Post-harvest wastage of combine harvesters is 2-3%, compared to 10-12% in conventional systems.
The Deputy Director of Agriculture Extension Department, Bhola, Hasan Warisul Kabir said that in Bhola, harvesting of paddy by combine harvester during Ropa Amon season has saved about 89 crore 74 lakh rupees. Deputy Director, Directorate of Agriculture Extension, Sherpur said that total savings of Tk 4 crore 54 lakh have been achieved as a result of harvesting paddy by combine harvester during Ropa Aman season in Sherpur district. Besides, Deputy Director of Agriculture Extension Department, Kishoreganj, Mr. Abdus Sattar said that the total amount of money has been saved as a result of harvester harvester paddy cutting in Ropa Amon season in Kishoreganj.
Deputy Director, Directorate of Agricultural Extension, Sunamganj, Bimal Chandra Som said that in Sunamganj, harvester paddy cutting in Ropa Aman season has saved about 34 crore 46 lakh Tk.
A farmer using a combine harvester is Abul Barakat of Sunamganj. He purchased a Yanmar AG 600 model combine harvester from the Mechanization Scheme through 70% subsidy. While talking to him, he said, I sincerely thank the Chief Minister, Agriculture Minister, Project Officers and all those with whose hard work I got the combine harvester. He also said sir what should I say before the combine harvester came we had to suffer a lot. People were not available at the time of paddy harvesting and many crops were destroyed in floods. Now I earn 8-10 lakh Tk excluding all expenses in both Aman and Boro seasons.