Agriculture Mechanization for Sustainable Development

Abstract

This presentation highlights the vital role of agricultural mechanization in promoting sustainable agricultural and rural development in Asia. With increasing labor scarcity and rising rural wages, mechanization offers timely, efficient, and scalable solutions to address farm labor shortages while enhancing productivity, reducing drudgery, and supporting the expansion of farm operations. Drawing on recent empirical studies, the presentation demonstrates how mechanization improves crop yields—especially in rice, wheat, and maize—through enhanced land preparation, pesticide application, and irrigation efficiency. Mechanization also contributes to increased land productivity and mitigates cropland abandonment in rural China. Beyond production benefits, evidence reveals that mechanization facilitates non-farm employment, particularly among rural women, thus improving household welfare, income diversification, and social outcomes. The presentation introduces a forthcoming special issue and two edited volumes that synthesize regional insights from Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, and Nepal, providing nuanced analysis of mechanization’s impacts on smallholder farming, gender, and policy innovation. Together, these findings underscore the need for inclusive, context-sensitive policies to harness mechanization for resilient and equitable food systems.