Agricultural Mechanization in Southwestern China during Transitional Period: A Case Study

Southwestern China is now in transition from traditional agriculture to mechanized one. As a case, all mechanized farm operations in Chongqing were studied. Cultivation mainly relies on power tillers. Sowing, planting and harvesting are largely done using human power. Sowers are applied for producing rapeseed and potato; and transplanters and combines to rice. Small sprayers, threshers, rice mills, feed grinders, pumping stations and movable engine-pump sets are widely exploited. To some extent field transportation depends on humans and animals. Only small amounts of farm products are dried with machinery. Relevant problems were analyzed and recommendations were made in this paper.