Agricultural Mechanization in Ghana: Insights From a Recent Field Study

IFPRI Discussion Paper 1729

42 Pages Posted: 10 Sep 2018

See all articles by Xinshen Diao

Xinshen Diao

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

John Agandin

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Peixun Fang

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Scott Justice

International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Nepal

Doreen Kufoalor

Ghana Strategy Support Program

Hiroyuki Takeshima

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Date Written: June 7, 2018

Abstract

Ghana is one of a few African countries where agricultural mechanization has recently undergone rapid development. Except for places in the forest zone where stumps are still an issue in fields, tractors used for plowing and maize shelling have been widely adopted even among small farmers. Medium- and large-scale farmers who own tractors provide the majority of mechanization services. Recognizing this fundamental fact is important for designing any effective mechanization policy, which should aim at the entire service market instead of targeting a selected group of service providers as beneficiaries. Tractor owners and operators are often discouraged from traveling long distances to plow only a few acres for individual small farmers, which becomes a considerable barrier for smallholders to access tractor services on time. This requires the government consider mechanisms to improve coordination among small farmers and to encourage Farmer Based Organizations (FBOs) to facilitate such coordination. The use of harrowing or second-plowing has been shown as a productivity-enhancing farming practice but it is currently under-demanded by farmers. A pilot program to address the coordination failures and to nudge small farmers to adopt harrowing services together can be considered.

Keywords: Ghana, West Africa, Africa South of Sahara, Africa, Mechanization, Agricultural Mechanization, Harrowing, Tractors, Agricultural Development, Market Failure

Suggested Citation

Diao, Xinshen and Agandin, John and Fang, Peixun and Justice, Scott and Kufoalor, Doreen and Takeshima, Hiroyuki, Agricultural Mechanization in Ghana: Insights From a Recent Field Study (June 7, 2018). IFPRI Discussion Paper 1729, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3240178

Xinshen Diao (Contact Author)

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

2033 K Street, NW
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202-862-8113 (Phone)
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John Agandin

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

2033 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
United States

Peixun Fang

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

1201 Eye St, NW,
Washington, DC 20005
United States

Scott Justice

International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Nepal ( email )

Apdo. Postal 6-641
Texcoco, El Batan 06600
Mexico

Doreen Kufoalor

Ghana Strategy Support Program ( email )

2033 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
United States

Hiroyuki Takeshima

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

1201 Eye St, NW,
Washington, DC 20005
United States

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