Drivers of agricultural mechanization and mechanized conservation agriculture: Synthesis from experience of successful countries

Based on literature, this paper reviews drivers of agricultural mechanization and mechanized conservation agriculture (CA) focusing on the experience of selected countries where mechanization and CA have been adopted at a large scale. The synthesis followed gradient approach where drivers of mechanized CA were evaluated considering different types of farm power use (mechanical, draft animal and manual), tillage types (conservation and conventional) and farm size (large and small holding). In the analysis, emphasis was given to major drivers of mechanized CA; namely, policies, markets, and institutional arrangements. Review results show that the expansion of mechanized CA is less proportionate across the World. Wider expansion has been observed in Latin America, North America, Australia, and South Asia regions whereas countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are the least in terms of the adoption of mechanized CA. The success of mechanized CA in the above indicated regions are mainly related to the availability of conducive markets, institutional and policy environments and the integration of diverse actors that helped in putting the necessary inputs, information and knowledge together. These all assisted in creating incentives to local CA-related machinery manufactures, machinery importers, distributors, local service providers, and farmers. Generally, literature supports that the expansion of mechanized CA is strongly related to the development, distribution and use of CA related farm machineries through the integrated efforts of different actors including private companies, international and national research institutes, government and non-government organizations, farmers, and extension service providers.