How to develop Knowledge and Skills for Mechanization in Africa

Abstract

Agricultural mechanization is now high on the policy agenda of many African countries, yet few of these efforts emphasize the development of knowledge and skills. However, without the appropriate knowledge and skills, using farm machinery is not very profitable. For example, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) found that more than 80% of the tractor-owners in Ghana regularly face long breakdowns of their equipment due to a lack of knowledge and skills on adequate operation and maintenance. A look into history shows that fully mechanized countries such as the United States of America and Germany once faced similar problems. This policy brief analyses how the United States and Germany built up the knowledge and skills needed for successful mechanization and derives insights that are relevant for developing countries.