| dc.description.abstract | This study examines the role of mechanization in
agricultural production under semi-arid conditions, drawing
on findings from low land Machakos District. The complementarity
between hydrological, biological, chemical and
mechanical inputs is emphasised; to underline the desirability
of a package approach in introducing innovations needed in
expanding agricultural production; to provide a framework
within which mechanical innovations must be viewed.
On the basis of the relative factor scarcities both
from the national and individual farmers' point of view as
well as the size distribution of the individual operating units
and the availability of financial resources at the farm level,g
theoretical range of the form of farm machinery that would
be consistent with efficient resource allocation as well as
being feasible and both technically and economically efficient
has been constructed. The characteristic of such machines
should include labour augmenting properties, in view of the
relative abundance of labour, be able to fit in small operating
units in view of the small sizes of the typical farms, be
accessible to farmers with limited financial resources and
involve minimal risk of financial losses in such areas as under
study where crop failures are frequent. In concrete terms,
an intermediate mechanical technology roughly covering animal
drought and or small motorized implements would seem desirable.
(ii)
It has been found that the predominant use of
animal drought in these areas is consistent with the postulated
relevant technology. The contribution of mechanization to
agricultural production can be viewed through the extent of
cultivated areas. It has been suggested that the expansion
of cultivated areas would increase potential outputs. While
the technology in use is relevant, there are marginal
improvements that could increase its effectiveness. Such
factors as the use of more appropriate implements e.g. the
ard or tine instead of the heavy all steel mouldboard plough
and greater attention to selection training and breeding of
task animals would greatly improve the effectiveness of the
animal based technology. | en |
