Mechanization driving the future of agriculture in Asia

Abstract

Agricultural mechanization boosts production by using machinery for tasks like plowing, irrigation, and harvesting to increase efficiency, reduce labor intensity, and alleviate seasonal labor shortages. However, agricultural mechanization development levels vary considerably across Asian countries, reflecting the diverse stages of economic development, policy frameworks, and resource availability. For example, in 2015, agricultural machinery power was 16 horsepower per hectare in Japan but only 1.5 horsepower per hectare in Viet Nam (Wijaya and Nurcahyo 2022). Other Asian countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Cambodia also exhibit relatively low levels of mechanization (Khan and Rehman 2019).