Agricultural mechanization and farm labor development

The twentieth century has been characterized by an increase in the use of agricultural mechanization to speed up the production process. The modernization in farming practices not only led to increasing agricultural yields but also brought wider social benefits related to food security lower food prices and work security. These achievements, however, have come at the cost of increasing external environmental and social costs. This chapter reviews existing literature that assesses the human impact of agricultural mechanization on farm development and farm workers activities and their wellbeing over time and across countries. Particular attention is paid to the role of agricultural mechanization in labor employment and farmers’ mobility, such as labor displacement tendencies. This review also explores how gender issues have evolved with the adoption of agricultural mechanization in the context of developing countries. More specifically, we examine how the introduction of new technologies can affect intra-household gender related dynamics, such as the women’s working status. Finally, this chapter offers a thorough review of economic studies with respect to the most successful agricultural mechanization programs that led to enhanced agricultural income. The work reviewed and analyzed focuses on the household level impacts of past and current agricultural mechanization practices on the well-being of farmers’ communities. This analysis allows for a more holistic understanding of the impacts that agricultural mechanization might have on future farm labor development in various regions.