| dc.description.abstract | The need for agricultural machinery in the agricultural production is beyond question. It not only replaces physical labor but also performs a variety of roles and functions including productivity growth and timely execution of high-precision works. However, as the agricultural machinery has become larger and more precise, its price has been rising. On the other hand, the scale of agricultural management by farming households is still small and progressing relatively slow, the farmers have difficulties in buying and using expensive agricultural machinery. In the policy point of view, it is desirable that the agricultural machinery is in demand and use by farmers to the extent that it does not burden them, but in reality it does.
The question about what is an appropriate number of agricultural machines in the Korean agriculture should not be considered simply as a matter of production material but is related to the lives of farmers, so it is not easy to provide a clear answer to this question. It is related not only to technology, economy and agricultural management but to various aspects of life. Depending on from what standard it is considered, there may be differences as to how many agricultural machines are appropriate. Therefore, it is impossible to calculate a proper number of agricultural machines in consideration of all the related variables.
The purpose of this study was to calculate a proper number of agricultural machines for agricultural production of Korea, based on a variety of criteria and methods. Four approaches were used for the analysis.
First approach was to calculate the arable land area under burden according to the performance of the agricultural machinery and, based on the calculated land area, to the appropriate number of agricultural machines. This approach emphasizes on the technical and mechanical aspects of the agricultural machines and assumes the maximum efficiency of natural and packaging conditions. As being calculated under the condition without any contention between works or workforce problem, the calculated appropriate number of agricultural machines was the smallest in all four approaches. As this was an extremely theoretical value, however, it would be very difficult to apply it in reality.
Second, the appropriate number of agricultural machines was estimated using the minimum cost mixed integer programming model. This approach estimates a value resulting when the combined expenses of agricultural machines required for a given work would be the minimum. It is to find the number of agricultural machines at the minimum cost. Even for the same type of machines, the expenses may vary depending on specifications. As the data about work duration, work efficiency or competition among works is rather theoretical than practical, the estimated value turns out to be relatively small. Though the value is bigger than the value calculated based on the arable land area under burden, the proper number of agricultural machines is estimated to be smaller than the one calculated by the following two methods.
Third, the appropriate number of agricultural machines was estimated based on a large-scale mechanized group farming system. At present, large-scale rice crop management systems called “Field-by-Field Management System” are being developed in the rural communities. These systems manage the large-scale rice crop farming over at least 50ha of land. Compared to individual management systems, they secure spacious work areas and self-regulate the work time and therefore they are believed to use the agricultural machines very efficiently. They have established mechanized systems through many years of management. Using these systems, it is possible to estimate the appropriate number of agricultural machines needed nationwide. It can be the best possible number of agricultural machines if the whole country can be organized into a group. However, as such organization is impossible, the estimated number is inevitably smaller than the appropriate number of agricultural machines actually in need.
Fourth approach was to estimate the appropriate number of agricultural machines needed nationwide based on the breakeven point where the revenues and costs were balanced when the farmers bought and used agricultural machines. As using the field data obtained from the farmers, this approach can produce the most realistic estimate. However, this takes only the economic revenues and costs into consideration and therefore the convenience of work or the improved quality in production activities cannot be taken into consideration. Therefore, the estimate would still be smaller than the optimal value that takes all the related factors into consideration.
Of the appropriated numbers of agricultural machines estimated by four approaches, we compared the one based on the large-scale rice crop management systems and the other using based on the breakeven point between revenues and costs and drew the following conclusion.
Currently, about 167 thousand tractors (excluding those used for livestock farming and facility farming) are used for the rice crop farming. Based on the mechanized system (10 day basis) of the field-by-field management system, the appropriate number of agricultural machines is estimated to be around 139 thousands (77 thousands in case of 15 day basis). Therefore, the number of agricultural machines currently in use is shown to be about 30 thousands more than the appropriate number. However, when based on the breakeven point for the farmers, the appropriate number was estimated to be 173 thousands and thus the actual number was rather smaller than the appropriate number.
For rice transplanters, the estimated appropriate number was 39 thousand more than the actual number when based on the mechanized system (10 day basis) of the field-by-field management system and excluding the walker-type (the walker-type rice transplanters are hardly in used in the field). On the other hand, when based on the area for breakeven point, it was shown to be 7.6 thousand more. However, in this case, the estimation showed that about 7,600 walker-type rice planters were also needed. Therefore, the estimated number did not seem to be too big.
For combines, the appropriate number was estimated at 58 thousands, which was smaller than the number of combines currently in use (that is, 79 thousands) when based on the mechanized system of the field-by-field management system (10 day basis). When based on the areas for breakeven point, the appropriate number of combines was 69 thousands, which was 10 thousand more. However, considering that the combines are rarely used in the field, it is hard to say that it is in excess.
As a result of comparing using various methods the appropriate number of agricultural machines and the actual number of agricultural machines in use, it is difficult to say in general that too many agricultural machines are in use. Except for the maximum value estimated from the mechanical and technological aspects and the one estimated using the mixed integer programming model for minimum cost, the issue of excess does not look so serious when the number is estimated based on the mechanized system of the field-by-field management system and on the area for breakeven point. When based on the area for breakeven point according to the most realistic data, the number of currently held agricultural machines may be slightly bigger more than the appropriate number, it is hard to say that all are in excess as the purchase and use of agricultural machines by farmers is affected by various factors in addition to revenues and expenses taken into consideration here.
Researchers: Kang, Chang-Young, Han, Hye-Sung
Research period: 2013. 8. - 2014. 1.
E-mail address: cykang@krei.re.kr, funny1978@krei.re.kr | - |
