Constraints to Agricultural Mechanization in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

The global food consumption is expected to double by the year 2050 and this calls for an increase in the world food production. The situation is even more challenging for sub-­‐Sahara Africa where there will be more rapid population growth (from 770 million in 2005 to between 1.5 and 2 billion in 2050). However, unlike other developing countries in Asia, the level of agricultural mechanization in Sub-­‐Sahara Africa is still very low and is faced with a number of constraints. It is important for the attention of governments and other institutions to be drawn to these for immediate intervention to be taken. The objective of this paper was to identify some of the factors responsible for the present abysmally low level of agricultural mechanization in the Sub-­‐Saharan Africa and proposed the way out of the doldrums within the shortest possible time. The identified factors which constitute main constraints to agricultural mechanization in most Sub-­‐Saharan African countries include lack of adequately trained personnel with the required technical expertise, low level of research and extension activities on appropriate technologies for land preparation, crop harvesting and post-­‐harvest operations; unfavorable and inconsistent government policies and interventions which work at cross purposes with agricultural mechanization.