Reasonable use of agricultural machinery has an extraordinary potential for poverty alleviation by increasing land and labor productivity in Thailand, Vietnam, and even in Bangladesh. This study was conducted under a program entitled “Agriculture Mechanization, Agro-Processing, Value addition and Export Market Development in Thailand and Vietnam from 1–14 November, 20I9” from the Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh. In all three distinct nations, farming activities represent a significant area of activity and remains the biggest wellspring of agricultural business. About 10.5% of Thailand’s, 21.5% of Vietnam’s, and 14.23% of Bangladesh’s GDP come from agriculture. For sustainable development, it is essential to modernize agriculture through the mechanization of its operations, which is therefore inevitable in the studied countries. Thailand’s government started mechanization in 1891 with the import of steam-powered tractor and rotary hoes. Since then the country has witnessed several milestones in the course of mechanization development. The focal plain agro-ecological zone of the state is the maximum and almost fully modernized area. As of now, there are two methods of practicing farming apparatus use: as a proprietor and/or through custom renting provision which coincides with Vietnam and Bangladesh. Historically, mechanization patterns in Vietnam can been described by tillage machinery with associated implement equipment use preceding 1975. This was non-linear, followed by a decreasing trend during the 80s prior to recovery during the 90s, with significant disparities in implementation status across the areas. In 2018, the number of tillage implements and harvesters was boosted about 1.6 and 25.6 times, respectively compared with 2006. The percentage of machinery use in soil tillage operation is 80% of the whole territory of cultivable land in Vietnam, compared to about 90% in Bangladesh and 100% in Thailand. Mechanization in Bangladesh started before independence with the importation of 2-wheel tractors and irrigation pumps in the last part of the 1960s as part of ‘Green Revolution’ activities. To continue this momentum, the Bangladesh Government permitted the continuation of agricultural machinery importation after later autonomy. Machinery use in different agricultural activities has increased in recent years in the areas of irrigation, land preparation, intercultural operation, and threshing. Though its degree of advancement is by and large still quite low contrasted with other South Asian nations, it is noticeable that the most recent two decades, the pace of mechanization has increased rapidly with the increase of mechanical power use in farm activities. The use of farm machinery in rice cultivation has been the most amazing when contrasted with different crops in these three nations. A clear comparison has been given in the paper, which aims to help researchers and policymakers take necessary measures.

Rice is a vital crop for food security in Bangladesh, occupying 75 % of its agricultural land. Weed management is crucial for maintaining rice yields because weeds compete for nutrients, water, and space, leading to yield losses ranging from 15 % to 60 %. Traditional hand weeding is labor-intensive and costly, driving the need for efficient, sustainable alternatives. This study assessed the operational effectiveness of five weeding technologies: BRRI Power Weeder (PW), BRRI Weeder (BW), BRRI Conical Weeder (CW), BRRI Double Row Weeder (DW), and Manual Hand Weeding (HW). Field trials were conducted at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and farmers' fields in Jogitola, Gazipur, during the 2022 Boro season. A comprehensive assessment of five distinct weeding technologies for rice cultivation in Bangladesh, considering their operational performance under research and field conditions. Essential performance indicators were evaluated-field capacity, weeding efficiency, tiller damage, and fuel consumption. The results revealed that the BRRI Power Weeder had the highest field capacity (669 m²/h) but caused more crop damage and had lower field efficiency due to turning delays. In contrast, manually operated weeders like BW and CW showed moderate field capacities (247 m²/h and 228 m²/h, respectively) with better crop safety and higher field efficiency. Manual hand weeding, while labor-intensive with the lowest field capacity (100 m²/h), caused minimal tiller damage and was most effective for small-scale fields. The findings indicate that mechanical weeders offer labor savings and improved efficiency, but crop safety and field conditions must guide technology selection. The commitment to balancing operational efficiency with crop safety is crucial for sustainable rice production in Bangladesh.

A study was aimed at modifying and manufacturing a power weeder at the local workshop using locally available material and evaluating its performance in the condition of Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute's Farm Machinery and Post-harvest Technology (FMPHT) division (BRRI) took the initiative to fabricate a power weeder using locally available materials. In the wetland of the BRRI research field and farmer's field at Jogitola of Gazipur district, the developed power weeder was tested during the boro season of 2017-2018. The average weeding efficiency of the power weeder was 80.38% and 81.43% at the research and farmers' field respectively. The percent of tiller damage was observed 2.78% and 2.81% respectively. 910 m2 h-1 (0.091 ha h-1) was the average effective field capacity of the power weeder. After 5 days, the percentage of weeds revived for power weeder was observed at 32.26% and 34.90% at the BRRI research and farmers' fields, respectively. Weed biomass was found 35.43 gm m-2 in a farmer’s field and 30.88 gm m-2 in the BRRI research field, Gazipur. This machine can be run by one man/woman easily. The weight of the complete weeder is 18.3 kg. The benefit-cost ratio of the weeder is 1.85. Farmers can use this weeder in wetland conditions. In the line transplanted wetland field conditions, the power weeder was found suitable for controlling weeds with minimum standing water. Bangladesh Rice J.26 (1): 47-57, 2022

Labor shortages during rice harvesting significantly challenge Bangladeshi’s agricultural landscape. This study addresses this issue by developing a medium-sized combine harvester suitable for small and fragmented landholdings. Manufactured using locally available materials at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), this harvester prioritizes affordability, ease of fabrication, high capacity, and minimal maintenance requirements. A third model was developed at BRRI’s Gazipur workshop through two successful development phases facilitated by a Public-Private Partnership. Field testing conducted during the 2021 Boro season assessed the harvester performance across diverse locations, yielding promising results. The harvester exhibited an average harvesting capacity ranging from 0.250 to 0.277 hectares per hour, with fuel consumption between 3.78 and 3.97 liters per hour. Travel speed averaged between 2.48 and 2.54 kilometers per hour, with grain output varying from 1027.22 to 1228.47 kilograms per hour. The field efficiency ranged from 66.12% to 73.58%. This Bangladeshi-made combine harvester presents manufacturers, policymakers, and farmers with a potential solution to enhance rice harvesting productivity and mitigate labor shortages. Its development offers hope for a more efficient and sustainable future for Bangladesh's agricultural sector.