Abstract:
Agricultural machinery management system plays a great role in today's farming because of its
importance in making a profitable farm return. But, in Kessem Sugar Estate, farm machinery
management systems are poorly developed and lacks automation; the majority of machinery
management work is done manually. This manual data processing hinders standard enforcement
and quality in farming activities. As a result, this study was conceived with aim to investigate field
machinery management system at Kessem Sugar Estate. The objective of the study was to develop
and apply an appropriate computer programme system for the evaluation and improvement of
field machinery management system at Kessem Sugar Estate. To achieve this objective study,
interviews, observations, and semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect data on Estate
during the growing seasons of 2018/19, 2019/20, and 2020/21. Data obtained were analyzed using
one way ANOVA at the significant level of 0.05. An agricultural machinery management system
was developed. The result indicated that 38.44% of farm machinery was at good working condition
while 35.44% was in bad working condition. The average calculated fuel and oil costs were
greater than the actual fuel and oil costs by 58.44, 61.64, 58.19, and 77.75% during the three
growing seasons for tractor and heavy-duty machinery, respectively. The calculated repair and
maintenance costs, were lower by 64.95 and 58.45% during the three seasons for tractor and
heavy-duty machinery, respectively. In addition to this, the study indicated that the ownership costs
were 73.46 and 26.53 %, of the overall costs, respectively. It can be concluded that the farm
machinery management system practiced in the Estate is poor. Hence, improvement is required in
the areas of data collection and proper recording. Maintenance, repair, fuel and oil costs must be
need to be recorded properly. Improving workshops capacity and capability, and training
mechanics and operators to develop skill is the order of the day. Generally, it is important to
improve the farm machinery management system at Estate
