Agricultural tools are farming instruments that help in carrying out a variety of farm tasks efficiently. They can be manually operated or powered using a machine. Agricultural tools play a significant role in ensuring that with less effort and less time, higher production is achieved. They have empowered farmers to improve their productivity and profitability. Investing in agricultural tools is a great way to enhance efficiency and reduce physical efforts. Farmers may require a wide range of agricultural tools based on their respective requirements and agricultural needs. Small and marginal farmers can also use these tools in fields where using a tractor or other modern machinery is not possible.
Traditionally, manual agriculture tools like sickle, pickaxe, and spade have been common farming tools in India. They are still widely used across the country to increase farm productivity. With time, these traditional tools used in agriculture have become advanced, aligning with the need for farm mechanisation in India. Modern tools, like knapsack sprayers and power tillers, use technology to simplify farming work. There is a growing trend of choosing modern agricultural tools and tractor implements for more efficient work and higher productivity.
Agricultural tools play a significant role in ensuring that with less effort and less time, higher production is achieved. They have empowered farmers to improve their productivity and profitability. Less manual labour is required because of the use of agricultural tools. Farming tasks are completed quickly within a suitable time period. Proper timing is crucial in farming as it can directly impact the quantity as well as the quality of the produce. Higher yield generates more income for farmers and thus supports their livelihood.
With a wide range of farmer tools available to choose from, it is necessary to understand their particular use before buying any specific tool. These tools reduce the effort and improve overall productivity. These are either manually operated or manually operated powered tools. Check out the following agriculture tools name and uses:
A sickle is a commonly used harvesting tool for farmers. It is half-round with a curved steel-edged blade and a handle to hold it at one end. The blade can be hardened and fabricated with carbon steel for wear resistance. It is a hand-held farming tool used to cut the crop. It is also used to harvest vegetables and cut grass and cereal crops due to its ease of use.
A pickaxe, also known as a pick, is a T-shaped tool held by hand for prying purposes. The head part of this tool is usually made of metal, and a perpendicular handle is attached to it. This handle is usually made of wood but can also be made of different materials. This tool is used for prying or breaking the soil. The other side is used for digging holes or chopping through the roots. It is also used to make space in soil to plant trees or shrubs.
A spade has a flat shape with sharp edges. The majority of spades come with a rectangular blade. It is used to break the ground or the tree roots remaining in the soil and lift soil, gravel and cattle dung in dairy farming. It is also used to remove grass and excavate the garden beds.
A brush cutter is a powerful tool that farmers use to remove the grass, bushes or weeds from the field. This helps make the field look clean by removing the unwanted grass. The tool has two types of blades: one has two nylon wires to cut the grass and weeds, and another one has sharp metal blades that come in contact with unwanted vegetation or plant stems and cut them. It is also used to cut crops like maise, jowar, paddy, and wheat, thus saving farmers time and effort.
Chaff Cutter is a commonly used tool by Indian farmers. This can be manually operated or powered by a machine. It is a device that is mostly used to prepare animal fodder. It is a user-friendly tool and requires low maintenance. It helps save time for the farmers by reducing the time spent cutting the animal fodder.
A Knapsack sprayer comprises an air chamber and a pump installed into a tank. It is a manual sprayer where the pump’s handle extends under the arm or over the shoulder, making pumping with one hand and spraying with another possible. The continuous operations of the pump can help maintain uniform pressure. Knapsack sprayers with electric pumps have recently become popular as they eliminate the need for constant manual pumping.
This is a versatile agricultural tool used for cultivation and land preparation. This is a compact tractor-like machine with an engine capable of ploughing the soil. It is used in areas where tractors are not possible, such as hilly areas or where the farming land is small. It prepares the seedbed by levelling the ground and preparing a uniform seedbed. It is primarily used for puddling in rice cultivation. It is also used for tillage, ploughing, and weeding.
Power Weeder is a tool that reduces the overall manual labour in weed control by mechanising the process. The tool has tynes that remove the weeds by pulverising and loosening the soil. It helps remove weeds efficiently and control their growth. It is an important tool for de-weeding in sugarcane plantations, coconut farms, horticulture, vegetables, etc.
A power reaper is a machine used to harvest the crops. This compact machine is easily accessible to marginal farmers and farmers with small farming land.
To summarise, farming has become convenient from the use of different tools. These tools are highly significant for farmers, as discussed in the blog. Irrespective of the evolution of these farmer tools, they have managed to improve the overall farming experience of the farmers, making them popular agricultural tools that farmers can have at their disposal.
Agriculture tools refer to equipment that assists farmers by reducing their efforts on farms.
The top 5 tools that farmers use in farming are the Sickle, Pickaxe, Spade, Brush Cutter, and Sprayer.
Power Tillers, Power Weeder, and Power Reaper are some of the modern tools used in agriculture.
Hand tools in agriculture refer to tools that can be used manually by hand and do not require an engine for operations.
These tools reduce the overall efforts of the farmers and help improve productivity. These are also useful in case of labour shortage or when tractors cannot be used due to small farms or farms being in hilly areas.