A Model for Up-Scaling Adoption of Appropriate-scale Farm Mechanisation in Zimbabwe.

Abstract

This dissertation presents results of a study on drivers and impacts of adoption of appropriate-scale farm mechanisation among rural farming households with the aim of better targeting of beneficiaries by both government and its stakeholders. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies in two selected districts, Chegutu and Zvimba, both located in Mashonaland West Province of Zimbabwe. Data collection methods for the quantitative study component was largely based on administering close-ended questionnaires to randomly selected adopters and non-adopters (n=988) in both districts identified in 16 wards. Quantitative data was collected, programmed and collated using Survey Solutions (an ICT based data collection programme). Research methods for the qualitative study component included Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), In-Depth Interviews (IDIs), Focus Group Discussions, Life-History Accounts and Observation. Quantitative data was analysed using quantile treatment effects (QTE) approach and SPSS. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. Therefore, triangulation was a major research and data analysis methodology for the study. Analysed data show that adoption of appropriate-scale farm machinery is very low in both districts, Chegutu and Zvimba. The most reported adopted farm technologies include knapsack (32.4% in Chegutu and 39.4% in Zvimba) and water pump (16.5% in Chegutu and 20.6% in Zvimba). Analysed data show that most of the adopters were those households with bigger pieces of land (6 hectares), cattle (average of 10), and education/training (some have tertiary qualifications and some have master farmer certificates and farming qualification and experience) and male-headed (67.1% in Chegutu and 83.3% in Zvimba). However, low adoption is against the evidence that use of farm machinery increases farm income by 80-104% and reduces the land preparation days of 1 hectare from an average of 14 days to an average of 5 days. Hence, adoption has the potential to increase household livelihoods and significantly reduce drudgery. Key recommendations emerging from the study are as follows: the need by both government and its stakeholders to design strategies that support increased uptake of appropriate-scale mechanisation among farmers e.g., by offering increased access through low interest loans; availing technologies at the local level especially for land preparation (tillage), weeding, planting and transportation. On the general level, the study recommends government and its stakeholders to seriously address the macro-economic challenges currently affecting the country, notably inflation, which undermines certainty, confidence, pricing regimes of both machinery and commodities. Further research points need to understand why policy makers are not crafting policies that address the prices of crops such that rural farmers will not experience losses.