STATUS AND CHALLENGES OF MECHANIZATION IN SMALL SCALE FARMING SYSTEM IN HARAMAYA DISTRICT, EASTERN HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA

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.