Assessing the impact of tractors and equipment hiring services on farm power and machinery use in Awka, Anambra state

Abstract

This research was done to assess the impact of tractors and equipment hiring from the department of engineering services at the ministry of agriculture Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. The parameters used were fleet of equipment, personnels and workshop facilities. The study used documental and interviewed schedule methods to achieve the research aim and objectives. Those interviewed included officers and farmers respondents of 300 people out of the whole population with regards to how they accessed services rendered by this unit and farm sizes. Records available at the headquarters of Anambra Development Programme (ADP) and Engineering services department, Ministry of Agriculture Awka provided additional sources of information. The unit has a total of 24 tractors which comprises two case-3; two Mahindra; 4 Eictcher; 6 John Deere; 3 Massey Fergusson; 7 New Holland; 9 bulldozer; 10 Disc plough; 10 Ridgers; 8 Disc harrows; 10 Planters; 10 Slashers; 12 Harvesters; 5 Graders; 7 Haiab; 7 Excavators; 20 Boom sprayers; 20 Root rakers. Most of these equipments were either functional or required minor repairs before use in the farms depending on farm size. Personnel’s incompetency and lack of skills for good practices resulted in equipment abandonment as scraps coupled with serious lack of maintenance culture. There has been a general increase in farm size cultivation since the introduction of the Engineering Department Services Unit which has considerably increased economic fortunes. Some farmers have not benefitted from these services because of their inability to raise funds for hiring and the remoteness of these farms which made it difficult to access farm machineries. These among many are the militating factors. The unit has great potentials for increasing agricultural productivity of the state if the equipment available can be effectively utilized.