A Survey of Farm Machinery Utilization and Maintenance in Ebonyi State.

摘要

A survey of farm machinery utilization and maintenance for increased Agricultural production in Ebonyi State was carried out with emphasis on tractors and implements. The relative status and performance of different makes of tractors were determined. The survey revealed that thirty-nine (39) tractors are owned by the Federal Government, sixty-one (61) are owned by the State Government, forty (40) tractors by Local Government and fifteen (15) are owned by Private Organizations. Eighty-six (86) of the tractors were acquired through direct purchase and fifty (50) through second hand purchase. Seventy-five (75) of the organization surveyed have standard functional workshop but only 50 are adequately equipped. Ninety- eight (98) of the workshops obtain their spare parts from open market and other (80) are available with difficulty. One hundred and ten (110) of the tractors surveyed are used for farming operations while the remaining forty-five (45) are used for haulage of farm products. The survey shows the different makes of tractors available in Ebonyi State to include: 20 Fiats, 6 Fords, 2 David Browns, 4 John Deores, 4 Internationals, 76 Steyrs, 28 Massey Fergusons, 9 Landinis and 6 Hollands. Twenty-five (25) of the tractors are 2-wheel drive, one hundred and twenty-three (123) are 4-wheel drive and 6 are track lying. 72.3% of the tractors surveyed are serviceable. Most of the causes of tractor breakdown are due to poor storage facilities, lack of genuine spare parts, obsolete machinery, careless operators, over-loading, mismanagement, poor maintenance and lack of funds. The negative attitudes to maintenance of tractors according to the people were attributed to the high cost of spare parts and unavailability of skilled or experienced mechanics. It is therefore recommended that storage facilities should be provided for the machineries and government should always organize programs such as workshop and seminars on farm machinery utilization and maintenance or rehabilitation to improve private/cooperative farmers' knowledge. They should also provide financial assistance to the private or cooperative farmers.