The role of improved farm implements and machinery, for sustainable development of agriculture and enhancement of productivity, has been established beyond doubt. They help to achieve timeliness of farm operations and efficient use of other inputs such as HYV seeds, chemicals, fertilizer and water. Under dynamic situation of changing cropping pattern as influenced by local agro-socio-economic factors, identification of farm mechanization needs and development of need-based farm implements and machinery are of paramount importance.

For development, testing and popularization of need-based farm implements and machinery for different regions of the country, the ALL India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Farm Implements and machinery (FIM) was started by Indian Council of Agricultural Research in 1975 during V Five Year Plan with six Centers. Presently there are 23 Centers including power tiller centers, working on one or more of the five distinct activities under the Project namely, design and development, prototype manufacturing, prototype feasibility testing, front line demonstration and power tiller technology. The FIM center at Dr. PDKV, Akola is started on February 01,1997. Under this FIM center prototype feasibility testing, front line demonstration activities are undertaken.
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To conduct research and development on farm implements and machinery for different agro-climatic regions of the country, prototype production, feasibility testing and promotion of manufacturing through industrial liaison and introduction and popularization of improved farm equipment.

Under this FIM center prototype feasibility testing and front line demonstration activities are undertaken.

The activity on Prototype Feasibility Testing (PFT) includes:

a) Mechanization studies to identify crops and operations for which improved machines are required.

b) Identification of designs of farm implements and machinery which can be adopted to fill the identified mechanization gaps.

c) Procurement and feasibility testing of identified equipment on farmers field and their adaption under local agro-climatic conditions.

d) Popularization of adapted farm implements and machinery among farmers and promoting their manufacture by involving local manufacturers. Machinery is undertaken.

The activity on Front Line Demonstration (FLD) of improved farm equipment includes:
a) Adapt new designs of farm equipment to bridge identified mechanization gaps
b) Test the efficacy of the identified equipment
c) Popularize and commercialize the identified equipment and
d) Obtain feedback from farmers for design refinement of the selected farm equipment.

The testing of cotton picker was carried out on the plots sown for testing purpose. The plant parameters of the sown varieties such as plant height, plant width, height of upper most and lower most boll, defoliation parameters etc were measured before use of picker. While during testing of picker machine performance, parameters such as forward speed, effective field capacity, machine picked seed cotton, seed cotton unpicked by machine, picking efficiency and trash content were determined.

The testing cotton picker (Make John Deere India Pvt. Ltd.) was carried out on the university farm at CRS, Dr. PDKV, Akola. Testing was carried out with two row tractor operated cotton picker on five plots of one hectare each of three different Bt. Cotton varieties. The plant parameters of the sown varieties such as plant height, plant width, height of upper most and lower most boll, defoliation parameters etc were measured before use of picker. While during testing of picker machine performance, parameters such as forward speed, effective field capacity, machine picked seed cotton, seed cotton unpicked by machine, picking efficiency and trash content were determined.

The tractor operated aeroblast sprayer was tested in university field area as per the land suitability for the tractor operations. The crops were sprayed are pigeon pea, seasamum, sunflower and cotton.

Front Line Demonstrations:- Under this activity the demonstrations of various farm equipments were given to the farmers. The equipments such as rotavator, seed drills, threshers etc. are demonstrated to the farmers.

Senior Scientist
All India Coordinated Research Project on Farm Implements and Machinery,
Department of Farm Power and Machinery,
Dr. PDKV, Akola 444 104 MS India