The consequences of farm tractors in Pakistan

Abstract

This study examines the major consequences of the introduction of tractor technology to farms in Pakistan. Field survey data were collected on farm structure, resource use, production processes and output before and after receipt of the tractors. The findings of the study are: (i) the average size of farms grew by a factor of 2.4; (ii) overall cropping intensity increased from 111.5 percent to 119 percent; (iii) the area sown to each crop increased in absolute terms, in keeping with (i) and (ii) above; (iv) labor use per cultivated acre decreased by some 40 percent, the implication of which is an overall net destruction of about five jobs per tractor; (v) tractors were utilized intensively at over 1200 hours per year. The intensity of use per cropped acre is markedly lower on larger farms, and some two-thirds of all tractor time was devoted to cultivation; (vi) the return on investment to the individual farmer is estimated at 57 percent and the social rate of return at 24 percent; and (vii) some significant adjustments remain unaccounted for.