Mechanization effects on crop production systems in Igunga district Tabora,Tanzania
Loading...
Date
2010
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
The study was carried in Igunga district. Tabora region from November 2008 to April
2009. It is estimated that 70% of land is ploughed by using DAP. Animal power is an
advanced technology as compared to hand technology but it is not a reliable power source
due to a lot of drawbacks. There is an argument that tractorization is uneconomical for
developing countries especially for smallholders. However, statistically analysed evidence
to justify this argument in the study area was lacking. Information on economic viability of
tractorization in Igunga was also lacking. 108 farming households were randomly selected
from 1 Ivillages. The 2007/08 crop production data was used to provide a comparative
economic analysis between DAP and tractor power using households. Specific attention
was to investigate the impact and implication of tractorization on total crop output, crop
income and resource utilization. T- test was used to compare the effects of mechanization
on resource utilization between the two groups. It was also used to compare crop output
between DAP and tractor power users. Effect of tractorization on total crop income was
investigated by using regression analysis. Cobb-Douglas production function was adopted.
Tractor use was taken as a dummy variable. Maize yield was higher with DAP while
cotton yields were higher with tractor power use. However, labour productivity was higher
with tractor use than AT. Tractor using households earn more crop income than their
counterpart due to bigger cultivated area. Tractorization had a positive impact on crop
income although not highly statistically significant. It is recommended to create awareness
to farmers on the availability of animal drawn implements that can be used in planting and
weeding. In order to exhaust the potential of cultivated land, agronomic practices should be
adhered to.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Land ownership, Animal traction, Agricultural mechanization