Agricultural machinery reduces labor costs and creates jobs in banke
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Farmers in the Banke district of Nepal are adopting modern agricultural machinery to simplify farming tasks and reduce production costs.
Farmers like Mohammad Islam Khan and Dhruv Kumar Thapa Khetri report that using threshers, reapers, and mini tillers has replaced traditional manual labor. Previously, farmers had to manually carry harvested rice or use animal-drawn plows. The shift to machinery addresses a growing shortage of rural manpower caused by many young people seeking employment abroad.
These machines allow farmers to process crops faster and with less physical strain. The increase in machinery use has also created self-employment opportunities for local youth. Amjat Ali Sheikh, who has operated a thresher for seven years, provides his services to farmers who lack enough household help. He earns a fee of 2,500 Nepalese rupees per hour or 12 kilograms of rice per quintal.
While competition has increased, the demand remains high as farmers prioritize speed and efficiency during the harvest season. Jaman Singh Wali of the Sakar Agriculture Cooperative notes that over 8,000 members of his cooperative use modern technology to save time and labor. Krishna Bikram KC, president of the Banke Farmers' Association, states that reapers can cut 10 to 15 kattha of rice per hour while mini tillers can plow 5 to 10 kattha per hour.
Experts suggest that while the technology is effective, the government should provide transparent subsidies and training to help farmers transition from traditional labor to industrial-scale production.
