Agricultural mechanization is on the rise in Africa. A widespread replacement of manual labor and animal traction will change the face of African agriculture. Despite this potentially transformative role, only a few studies have looked at the effects of mechanization empirically, mostly focusing on yields and labor alone. This is the first paper that explores perceived agronomic, environmental, and socioeconomic effects together, thereby revealing linkages and trade-offs, some of which have been hitherto unknown. Data were collected using a novel data collection method called “participatory impact diagrams” in four countries: Benin, Kenya, Nigeria, and Mali. In 129 gendered focus group discussions, 1330 respondents from 87 villages shared their perceptions on the positive and negative effects of agricultural mechanization, and developed causal impact chains. The results suggest that mechanization is likely to have more far-reaching agronomic, environmental, and socioeconomic consequences than commonly assumed. Most perceived effects were positive, suggesting that mechanization can help to reduce poverty and enhance food security but other effects were negative such as deforestation, soil erosion, land-use conflicts, and gender inequalities. Accompanying research and policy efforts, which reflect variations in local agro-ecological and socioeconomic conditions, are needed to ensure that mechanization contributes to an African agricultural transformation that is sustainable from a social, economic, and environmental perspective.

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The increase in the production of rice commodities, corn, and soy (Pajale) continues to be encouraged by the government to provide adequate needs to avoid exports. This program has been conducted intensively on the activities of the state BUDGET-year 2017. The purpose of this research is 1) to know the response of farmers to the soy UPSUS program, and 2) to know the income received by farmers in the soybean UPSUS Program. The method of research is conducted using the survey method, the form of primary data collection by providing questions to the respondent, hereinafter, to know the level of admission of soybean farming is done using R/C ratio analysis. As a result, the average age of farmers in productive age (45), all farmers have participated in formal education, and among them, there are 17 people at basic educated. Mostly there are three people as Family members. Experience farming range between 26 and 32 years, and the area of land tenure > =1.7 ha. Revenue acquisition of farmers Upsus in the 1 -time production process (on average four months) obtained a net profit of Rp 4.960.000, -with R/C Ratio acquired the value of 2.03, which means that soybean cultivation deserves to cultivated.

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui peran kelompok tani dalam meningkatkan pendapatan usaha tani padi sawah. Kegiatan penyuluhan dilaksanakan di Kelompok Tani Sipammanakang Desa Bontokanang, Kecamatan Galesong Selatan, Kabupaten Takalar. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode deskriptif untuk menganalisis data dengan cara mendeskripsikan atau menggambarkan data yang telah terkumpul sebagaimana adanya tanpa bermaksud membuat kesimpulan yang berlaku untuk umum atau generalisasi. Parameter yang diamati yaitu analisis biaya total usaha, analisis penerimaan, analisis pendapatan, dan analisis keuntungan. Data yang dianalisis yaitu petani yang tergabung dalam kelompok tani dan yang tidak tergabung. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa petani yang menjadi responden terbanyak adalah berumur 41-50 tahun sebanyak 23 orang (37,31%). Biaya tetap sebelum tergabung dalam kelompok tani sebesar Rp. 1.074.985 /Ha dan setelah tergabung dalam kelompok tani sebesar Rp.590.208 /Ha, Biaya variable sebelum tergabung dalam kelompok tani sebesar Rp. 1.705.895 /Ha dan setelah tergabung dalam kelompok tani sebesar Rp. 1.548.985 /Ha. Keuntungan rata-rata sebelum tergabung dalam kelompok tani Rp. 3.332.418.00 /Ha dan setelah tergabung sebanyak Rp. 4.620.389.00 /Ha. Hasil pengujian Chi-Square menunjukkan bahwa terdapat hubungan yang signifikan antara variabel-variabel Peran Kelompok Tani dengan Pendapatan petani di Desa Bontokanang Kecamatan Galesong Selatan Kabupaten Takalar.