Abstract:

Progress in mechanization in much of SSA has stalled over the past three decades, resulting
in its low profile in national agricultural development strategies and largely dropping off the
agenda of international development organizations as well as donor agencies. This is a matter
of concern because of disturbing trends that show that agriculture in SSA has fallen behind
in many respects, including the reduction of food production per capita, of agricultural value
addition and of agricultural imports relative to exports, as well as increased undernourished
populations (FAO, 2004). Moreover, there is accumulating evidence that earlier progress made
in mechanization is being lost in many areas: tractor hire services have declined following
structural adjustment, and some areas where animal traction had established a foothold have
shifted back to hand hoeing because of loss of draught animals from droughts, increased
outbreaks of livestock diseases and deteriorating animal health services.