Mechanization technology for small tropical farms

The general lack of efforts on the development of appropriate agricultural machines for indigenous production is a serious bottleneck in the establishment of a viable farm equipment industry in the region. International Rice Research Institute"s agricultural engineering program is therefore sharply focused towards providing suitable agricultural equipment which meet two important criteria. One, the machine must meet the functional requirements of a substantial segment of the tropical farmers to ensure a sizable market. Two, machines must be suitable for local manufacture with the available manufacturing technology in the region.