Role of mechanical rice harvesting in socio-economic development of Bangladesh

Abstract. Mechanized agriculture plays a key role in the overall socio-economic development of any community in terms of food security, value addition, employment, poverty alleviation and export earnings. In Bangladesh, it is essential to ensure agricultural mechanization, especially in rice harvesting system to increase production and cropping intensity. The main objective of the study was to identify the present rice harvesting practices in southern delta of Bangladesh and was also to assess the manual and mechanical harvesting systems of rice with impact on socio-economic status of Bangladesh by reducing labor cost, infield harvesting losses and harvesting time. Several experiments were conducted to compare between mechanical and manual harvesting systems. Mechanical harvesting of Aman-2016 rice and Boro-2017 rice was conducted using reaper and a mini-combine harvester at Dumuria, and Wazirpur Upazilas of Khulna and Barisal districts, respectively of Bangladesh. Manual harvesting of rice was also conducted at the same locations. The results showed that manual rice harvesting cost was 24400 BDT/ha, and on the other hand, harvesting cost using mini-combine harvester and reaper were found 10123 BDT/ha and 13152 BDT/ha, respectively. Harvesting loss of rice can be reduced 5.12% and 2.14% using mini-combine and reaper, respectively in comparison to manual harvesting system. Farmers can invest the financial benefit of mechanical harvesting system to other agricultural sectors like poultry, fishery, vegetable and fruits production. As a result, total agricultural production might be increased and helped to contribute significantly to the development of socio-economic status of rural community of Bangladesh.