Empowerment and agricultural mechanisation: perceptions and experiences of women tractor operators in Ghana

Cele, Lungelo

doi:10.1080/09614524.2021.1937551

Cited by 2 publications

References 15 publications

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Visualizing the Gendering of Agricultural Mechanization in the Global South: A Review of the Underlying Drivers

Kansanga,

Dinko

2024

Gender, Power and Politics in Agriculture

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While mechanization has emerged as a key pathway for improving agriculture in the Global South, the materialization of its perceived benefits has been hindered by gender inequalities in technology use. Deeply connected to this gendering of technology are debates about the drivers of women’s low access to and control of mechanized agricultural technologies. Drawing on the gender mechanization literature and based on insights from mechanization research in sub-Saharan Africa, we explore the multi-scalar factors that explain the gendering of mechanized technologies in the Global South and provide policy recommendations. Overall, our analysis contributes to the gender-mechanization literature by demonstrating that the masculinization of agricultural technologies is not just a product of the widely discussed role of structural factors in local agrarian spaces, but an element of the very design and engineering of mechanized technologies that attribute masculine traits to them, and the consistent deployment of gender (in)sensitive agricultural programs by governments and development partners. Given that masculinization of technology is endemic in agriculture and transcends mechanization, we identify governments and development partners as viable intermediaries who are well positioned to channel feedback on the needs of women to the agricultural machinery industry upstream, while ensuring a gender-sensitive deployment of mechanization services downstream.

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Visualizing the Gendering of Agricultural Mechanization in the Global South: A Review of the Underlying Drivers

Kansanga,

Dinko

2024

Gender, Power and Politics in Agriculture

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Challenges and Opportunities of Tractor Adoption by Smallholder Farmers in Gambella Region, Ethiopia

Bor,

Deng

2024

IJMEA

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Tractor adoption by smallholder farmers in the Gambella region is essential for increasing agricultural productivity, improving food security, and promoting sustainable livelihoods. The sampling methods employed included purposive sampling to select kebelles and a lottery method for sample respondents. Primary data were collected through surveys, questionnaires, in-depth interviews, focus groups, and field observations, while secondary data were obtained from government statistics, academic publications, non-governmental organization reports, market information, and historical records. Data analysis utilized descriptive statistics, such as frequencies and percentages. Regarding opportunities for tractor adoption, the study found that 9% of smallholder farmers used tractors to improve soil health, 20% to reduce labor costs, and 16% to enhance market access, 7% to reduce post-harvest losses, and 48% to increase productivity. Conversely, the study identified major constraints, with 27% citing high initial investment, 40% noting lack of credit access, 18% reporting limited technical expertise, and 15% indicating inadequate infrastructure as barriers to tractor adoption. To maximize adoption opportunities, government agencies and private companies should offer financial incentives and loans to support farmers’ tractor investments. Additionally, to address these adoption challenges, government, local, and non-governmental organizations should provide subsidies, low-interest loans, and technical training programs to enable smallholder farmers to purchase or rent tractors, thus enhancing access to mechanized services and improving agricultural productivity and efficiency.

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Empowerment and agricultural mechanisation: perceptions and experiences of women tractor operators in Ghana

Cited by 2 publications

References 15 publications

Visualizing the Gendering of Agricultural Mechanization in the Global South: A Review of the Underlying Drivers

Visualizing the Gendering of Agricultural Mechanization in the Global South: A Review of the Underlying Drivers

Challenges and Opportunities of Tractor Adoption by Smallholder Farmers in Gambella Region, Ethiopia

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