Animal traction, two-wheel tractors, or four-wheel tractors? A best-fit approach to guide farm mechanization in Africa

Daum, Thomas; Seidel, Anna; Getnet, Bisrat; Birner, Regina

doi:10.2139/ssrn.4092687

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Given the prominence of draft power as a source of farm power in Zambia and Zimbabwe (Table 1; FAO and AUC, 2019), this result suggests that animal traction and motorised mechanical options will co-exist in the study countries depending on the context. This finding is in line with suggestions by Daum et al (2022) who argue that 'there is no blue-print for best technologies but only best-fits' and that animal traction remains relevant in the ongoing mechanisation drive in sub-Saharan Africa.…”

Section: What Explains Wtp For Mechanisation?supporting

confidence: 91%

“…While this analysis focuses on 2WTs, we recognise that animal traction is still very common in these countries and it will remain an important source of farm power. As such, we agree with Daum et al (2022) in stating that animal traction will remain an important part of smallholder mechanisation and with Baudron, Nazare, and Matangi (2019) that animal traction is part of appropriate scale mechanisation. Although evaluating the merits of 2WTs over animal traction or the profitability of 2WTs (see Baudron, Nazare, and Matangi (2019)) or whether 2WTs should leapfrog animal traction (Daum et al, 2022) is beyond the scope of this paper, motorised sources of farm power are becoming more relevant in the context of rising animal diseases and declining animal herds in southern Africa (Baudron, Nazare, & Matangi, 2019).…”

Section: J E L C L a S S I F I C A T I O Nsupporting

confidence: 81%

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Smallholder farmers' willingness to pay for two‐wheel tractor‐based mechanisation services in Zambia and Zimbabwe

Ngoma

Marenya

Tufa

et al. 2023

J of Intl Development

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Mechanisation is back among top development policy priorities for transforming African smallholder agriculture. Yet previous and ongoing efforts ubiquitously suffer from lack of scientific information on end‐user effective demand for different types of mechanical innovations to inform public investment or business development programmes. We assess smallholder farmers' willingness to pay (WTP) for two‐wheel tractor (2WT)‐based ripping, direct seeding and transportation using a random sample of 2800 smallholder households in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Applying the Becker–DeGroot–Marschak Mechanism (BDM) experimental auctions, we find that at least 50% of sample households in Zambia and Zimbabwe were willing to pay more than the prevailing market prices for ripping. In nominal terms, sample households in Zimbabwe were willing to pay more than those in Zambia for the different services. Empirical results suggest that wealth is the strongest driver of WTP for tillage and seeding 2WT services while labour availability and using animal draft power reduce it. These findings imply a need to (i) raise awareness and create demand for 2WT‐based services in an inclusive business manner that does not create perverse incentives and (ii) better target mechanisation to operations with comparative advantage, using approaches that bundle 2WT‐based and other mechanisation services with asset‐agnostic credit schemes or other interventions meant to overcome asset‐mediated barriers.

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Section: What Explains Wtp For Mechanisation?supporting

confidence: 91%

Section: J E L C L a S S I F I C A T I O Nsupporting

confidence: 81%

Smallholder farmers' willingness to pay for two‐wheel tractor‐based mechanisation services in Zambia and Zimbabwe

Ngoma

Marenya

Tufa

et al. 2023

J of Intl Development

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The results may be location-specific because of the different functions that large-and small-scale machinery (i.e. 4WTs and 2WTs) play in rice cultivation and because of soil conditions (Daum et al 2022). For example, 4WTs are used for plowing and a pair of oxen are used for puddling in Mwea Irrigation Scheme in Kenya, where the soil is vertisol, which is particularly hard.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanization in Tanzania: Impact of Tractorization on Intensification and Extensification of Rice Farming

Magezi

Nakano

Sakurai

2023

Natural Resource Management and Policy

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In this chapter, we explore the effects of mechanized tillage among rice farmers in Tanzania. We use two-year panel data to examine the expansion of the area under rice cultivation (extensification) and the intensive use of yield-enhancing rice technologies (intensification). We categorize farmers based on the implements they use to prepare their rice plots, namely four-wheel tractors (4WTs), two-wheel tractors or power tillers (2WTs), draft animals (DAs), and the use of manually operated tools such as hand hoes (HTs). We then examine how the use of each implement is associated with intensification and extensification. We find, among other things, that 2WTs are highly associated with high adoption rates of improved rice technology, resulting in high paddy yield. We do not find any strong evidence that 4WTs or 2WTs significantly affect extensification compared to DAs. This chapter's findings suggest that, since 2WTs can play a role in the intensification of rice farming in SSA, policies to promote the use of this mechanical technology should be implemented.

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“…Compared to global actors, local manufacturers in the vicinity of farmers can be much better positioned to develop engineering solutions that are adapted to local agro‐ecological conditions (Biggs & Justice, 2015; Biggs & Justice, 2021; Binswanger, 1986; FAO & AU, 2018; Mrema et al, 2018; Samarakoon, 2011), providing them with some protection against imports (see also Frankema & Van Waijenburg, 2018). Studies show that Africa is characterized by large agro‐ecological variations and that machinery demands and suitable designs, therefore, vary considerably (e.g., Daum et al, 2023; Samarakoon, 2011; Takeshima, 2017b; Takeshima et al, 2015). In a landmark paper on mechanization, Binswanger (1986) emphasized that “both agro‐climatic factors (soil, terrain, rainfall) and economic factors (land, labor, capital, farm size, and materials available) require adaptive innovation on a scale that has been vastly underestimated” (p. 50).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Made in Africa – How to make local agricultural machinery manufacturing thrive

Daum,

Adegbola,

Kamau

et al. 2023

J of Intl Development

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Manufacturing has the potential to drive economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction, but African manufacturers face challenges in competing with global markets. Agricultural machinery manufacturing may be one niche where African manufacturers can succeed. This paper examines the challenges and opportunities facing local agricultural manufacturers in Africa based on a survey of 386 manufacturers in four countries and qualitative methods. Results show that small, dedicated entrepreneurs have created vibrant local machinery markets. These manufacturers have several comparative advantages, in particular, the ability to develop machinery adapted to local agroecological conditions but face challenges related to financing, human resources, utilities, raw materials, production equipment and the regulatory environment. The paper offers recommendations on how to support local manufacturers to make “Made in Africa” the first choice for African farmers and agro‐food processors.

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Animal traction, two-wheel tractors, or four-wheel tractors? A best-fit approach to guide farm mechanization in Africa

Cited by 5 publications

References 34 publications

Smallholder farmers' willingness to pay for two‐wheel tractor‐based mechanisation services in Zambia and Zimbabwe

Smallholder farmers' willingness to pay for two‐wheel tractor‐based mechanisation services in Zambia and Zimbabwe

Mechanization in Tanzania: Impact of Tractorization on Intensification and Extensification of Rice Farming

Made in Africa – How to make local agricultural machinery manufacturing thrive

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