Mechanization

Towards inclusive mechanization? Two-wheel tractor-based service markets in Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, and Zimbabwe

Purpose – African agricultural mechanization could lead to a mechanization divide, where only large farms have access to machines. Technological solutions such as scale-appropriate machines and institutional solutions like service markets offer hope …

Addressing agricultural labour issues is key to biodiversity-smart farming

There is an urgent need for agricultural development strategies that reconcile agricultural production and biodiversity conservation. This is especially true in the Global South where population growth is rapid and much of the world's remaining …

Scaling agricultural mechanization services in smallholder farming systems; Case studies from sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America

There is great untapped potential for farm mechanization to support rural development initiatives in low- and middle-income countries. As technology transfer of large machinery from high-income countries was ineffective during the 1980s and 90s, …

A farm-level assessment of labour and mechanization in Eastern and Southern Africa

Once again, agricultural mechanization is top on the policy, research, and development agendas in sub-Saharan Africa. However, whether labor is limiting in this region - and mechanization is in demand - remains debated. The hypothesis of this study …

Agricultural mechanization and reduced tillage: antagonism or synergy?

This paper reviews agricultural mechanization and reduced tillage use in the context of sustainable intensification in developing country agriculture. The scoping review includes selected and contrasting cases - including Zimbabwe (manual systems), …

Is labour a major determinant of yield gaps in sub-Saharan Africa? A study of cereal-based production systems in Southern Ethiopia

We investigated the role of labour in explaining the yield gap of cereals at both crop and farm levels on smallholder farms in Southern Ethiopia. A household survey containing detailed information of labour use at crop and farm level of ca. 100 farms …

The role of mechanization in transformation of smallholder agriculture in Southern Africa Experience from Zimbabwe

Labour is increasingly constraining productivity of farming systems in Southern Africa, and the adoption of sustainable intensification is likely to compound the problem. Mechanization based on the use of small engines - such as multipurpose …

Re-examining appropriate mechanization in Eastern and Southern Africa: Two-wheel tractors, conservation agriculture, and private sector involvement

The need for sustainable intensification in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) is widely recognized as a requirement to achieve food security with minimum negative social and environmental consequences. In current Research & Development programs, much …