Effect of farm mechanization on carabao draft power utilization
1998
Battad, L.G. | Agbayani, L.S. | Cruz, L.C. (Philippine Carabao Center, Munoz, Nueva Ecija (Philippines))
Carabao substitution is generally manifested in irrigated areas, ranging from 16.78 percent in Cotabato to as high as 38.24 percent in Pangasinan [Philippines]. Hand tractors are used mainly for land preparation particularly plowing and harrowing. The rapid turnover of carabaos in the survey areas was due to the presence of auction markets and traders. However, in Nueva Ecija and Leyte [Philippines], substitution was evident in rainfed areas because of pressure caused by short planting season due to erratic rainfall. Farm size and the type of crops raised were found to significantly affect the number of days the animal is at work. Carabaos are expected to work more on annual crops than on perennial crops. Area cultivated directly affects carabao utilization. In the upland areas, the propensity to use carabao increases with increasing farm size. But for Luzon, many of the relatively large farms used hand tractors in land preparation. Some of the major constraints in the utilization of carabao as work animal includes feed scarcity, type of farm implements, and poor animal health. Factors affecting the utilization of hand tractors include among others the changing economic conditions resulting from the movement of farm labor away from the agricultural sector. Government policies that promotes and encourages the use of mechanical power in farming and the continuous increase in the price that promotes and encourages the use of mechanical power in farming and the continuous increase in the price of beef have trickle down effect on carabeef as a substitute. In the Philippines where farming is done in fragmented smallholdings and wherein the carabao has been well-integrated, farmers will continue to use carabao for draft power. The petroleum-driven hand tractor is unlikely to compete economically in relatively small farm sizes
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