Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 17 ISSUE 1
Written by Hemen Emmanuel JIJINGI, Paul Osu SIMEON

This paper briefly introduces mechanization and its application to agriculture. One of the main problems facing agricultural mechanization in Benue State is the adoption of mechanization strategies. These are often done by governments and international agencies that do not pay enough attention to the interest of small farmers and to the process of technology change. Other pertinent problems include prevalence of small fragmented farm holdings, high cost of hiring tractors for land/bush clearing; lack of classified data and information on the suitability; adaptability and performance of commercially available agricultural equipment as related to types and conditions of soils, crops and livestock; poor monitoring; inadequate repair and maintenance facilities; difficulties in obtaining spare parts; insufficient trained machinery operators; inadequate research programmes; poor credit facilities; poor maintenance culture; absence of incentives for indigenous design and manufacture of equipment and inadequate infrastructural facilities such an pipe bone water; poor road networks and electricity. The paper examines the actions of government and collaborating international agencies. The work is a scholarly inquiry using secondary data and personal visits of the researcher to Benue State owned Tractor Hiring Units. The result reveals several inadequacies which have promoted failures and meaningless attempt at mechanization in agriculture. The paper concluded that there is need for proper combination of hand tools technology, animal draught technology and mechanical power technology that are moderate enough to be supported by indigenous design, development and manufacture of the most needed tools, machinery and equipment and their spare parts.

[Read full article] [Citation]

SPUPOPUPNO1