Abstract:
Ethiopian agriculture is dominated by a smallholder farming system, where the farmers rely
on traditional farming method, which is labor-intensive and prone to drudgery. Appropriate
mechanization should replace human labor in agriculture but, there is a low level of
mechanization in the country. Different factors affect the use of agricultural mechanization by
smallholder farmers. Thus, the main objective of this research was to assess the status and
challenges of mechanization in small-scale farms system in Haramaya district of the Oromia
region. To achieve the objective of this study, different methods were used. A total of 150 (126
farmers and 24 agricultural experts) were selected using multistage sampling techniques.
Interviews, observations, and semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect data.
Linear regression was used to predict the effect of mechanization input on crop
production. Finally, the mechanization status of the study area was determined by the degree,
level, and capacity of mechanization. The results indicated that using mechanization input has a
positive and significant effect on crop production. The level of mechanization in the study area
was 0.164 hp/ha, and to reach 1.5 hp/ha 111 tractors would be required. In general, agricultural
mechanization practices in smallholder farming systems have a significant contribution to
productivity, living standards, and sustainable growth. Therefore, the appropriate use of
mechanization input for the smallholder farmers in the study area is crucial. So, the government
and different stakeholders should facilitate the upgrading of the current traditional farming
systems to mechanized farming systems.
