Assessing the status of mechanization and proposing technical solutions for lime farming in the Mekong River Delta

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the current status of mechanization in lime growing activities of farmer households in the Mekong River Delta. The current status of mechanization was assessed through different groups of criteria that reflect the scale of mechanization level, resources of farmers applying mechanization, results, and production efficiency. The level of machine and technology application was assessed by building the mechanization index. With a sample of 555 lime farmer households in Long An and Ben Tre, the results showed that the application of machines and equipment in lime growing activities in the study area was quite limited. Households mainly used machines in two stages including land preparation (42% of households applying mechanization) and tree care (93 %). The growth rate and mechanization investment of the 2016-2019 period were almost unchanged. The estimated results of mechanization index showed that most of lime growers had a very low mechanization application level with an average value of only 0.09. In fact, 2% of the surveyed households do not invest in mechanization in lime production, 89.8% are in the group with very low mechanization level, 3.1% at low mechanization level, only 5.1% at medium mechanization level and no household had high mechanization application level. From the survey results, potential technical solutions for lime farming in the Mekong River Delta were also proposed, including mechanization for small and medium farms and mechanization considerations for plant care. Finally, in order to improve the quality of lime fruit, the semi-mechanization harvesting systems and appropriate storage facility and suitable packaging are highly recommended.