About Division:

Farm Machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering (FMPE) division is one of the 16 research divisions of BARI. The division started functioning in 1990 after generation of Irrigation and Water Management (IWM) division and FMPE division from the mother division of Agricultural Engineering. The main responsibility of FMPE division is to develop suitable farm machinery and technology for different agricultural operations including postharvest process activities for the farm people of Bangladesh to make the best use of our limited natural resources. FMPE division has developed 51 farm machinery and technology for different agricultural operations. The scientists of this division apply knowledge of engineering and biological science to transform the traditional ariculture production system to mechanized production system for maximize the farm production from the decreasing agricultural land. Besides the development of modern farm machinery, the division also works on the postharvest processing techniques of different crops, vegetables and fruits. To minimize the postharvest loss of agricultural products this division develops low cost postharvest handling, storage and packaging methods for the producers and processors. Use of renewable energy as an alternative for fossil fuel in agriculture is one of the research area of this division. Solar powered irrigation pump and non-edible jatropha oil as bio-diesel for the farm engines are the successful outcomes from this research area. Testing and evaluation ofthe field performance and suitabilitystudy of different imported and local made agricultural machineryfor Bangladeshi farmers is a regular task of FMPE division. Recently, this division has established a CA (Conservation Agriculture) Park in about 1.0 hectare of land for conducting long term CA experiments. CA Park is an excellent demonstration platform to visulize the effect of CA to the scientists, policy makers, extension personnel, teahers, students and farmers. There is a website (www.camachinery.org) to see different CA and other farm machinery, manufacturers/dealers, mechanic, service providers, spare parts and other relevant information available in Bangladesh. In addition, dissemination of matured technologies to the targeted users through training, field demonstration, seminar, workshop, mass media and participation of different fair is an ongoing activities of this division.Also technical training and technical assistance for the local manufacturers are provided to ensure the quality and durability of locally made agricultural machinery. Recently this division has started work on IoT (Internet of things) and sensor based farm machinery to address the 4IR (Fourth Industrial Revolution).