Agricultural modernization in Tanzania: a case study on the transition of increasing tractor-hiring services in the rice-producing area of Kilombero Valley
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Date
2022
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Japanese Society for Tropical Agriculture
Abstract
Expanding tractor use was expected to strengthen agriculture and improve welfare in rural African areas. However,
there were various discussions on introducing tractors to African agriculture. Although some studies pointed out that introducing
tractors caused increases in agricultural productivity and farmer’s income, others indicated that the costs of using or maintaining
tractors were expensive for local farmers and caused them economic burdens. This study aimed to grasp the dynamics of the
tractor-hiring service in rural Tanzanian areas. Data related to hiring tractor services and farmer management were collected
through interviews with local farmers and tractor owners in one of Tanzania’s rice-producing areas for 17 years. The results
showed an increase in the number of tractors and decrease in the study area’s tractor-hiring charges. Additionally, the cost for rice
cultivation also decreased. Furthermore, among some farmers, increases in the average farm size per household as well as the
average income were noted. However, other farmers did not increase their farm sizes and did not receive benefits from sufficiently
promoting tractorization
Description
Journal of Trop. Agr. Develop. pp. 150 － 155
Keywords
Africa, Motorization of agriculture, Rice cultivation, Tractor