Agricultural Mechanization in Sub Saharan Africa for a Better Tomorrow

摘要

Progress in agricultural mechanization in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has stagnated more recently than in the last three decades. This is one of the major causes that leads to declined agricultural production per capita and reduced self-sufficiency in major cereal crops. When can we have mechanized agriculture in SSA to meet the long-time demand of African farmers? The purpose of this paper is to discuss what enabling environment is required to boost agricultural mechanization in SSA. It reviews the issues of agricultural mechanization in SSA in the late 20th century. The recent new economic situation in SSA and other favourable factors are described. It analyses the causes of failure in agricultural mechanization for small scale farmers, then identifies some possible counter measures with enabling environment that promote agricultural mechanization. One of the key issues is how to promote sound competitiveness of the private sector through Private-Public Partnership (PPP). The role of the public sector in promoting PPP in agricultural mechanization is discussed along with development of the partners' role. The time has come. The paper concludes that agricultural mechanization would be boosted under current favourable economic situations in SSA by achieving an enabling environment in each country.