Challenges Faced by Smallholder Farmers of DRC to Access Agricultural Productive Resources

Challenges Faced by Smallholder farmers of DRC
Challenges Faced by Smallholder farmers of DRC

Farmers on small plots of land are essential to the DRC’s agricultural system and play a major role in all three facets of food security: food production, distribution, and consumption. However, a significant barrier still exists for Smallholder farmers: limited access to productive resources. The term “resource” refers to any material or immaterial asset, such as land, agricultural machinery, money, agricultural supplies, knowledge or the ability to make decisions, or time. To have access to something means you can obtain it, use it, and have some say in how you utilize it. Farmers already see climate change as a risk to agricultural food production, and the problem has deteriorated with the COVID-19 epidemic, which has thrown off input supply chains and the planting schedule.

Opportunities and Challenges

Agriculture in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been proclaimed a priority by many different administrations throughout the years as a means to combat poverty. They said they would improve infrastructure for farmers, put more money into agriculture, and find more ways to add value to crops and harvests. However, the COVID-19 outbreak and political instability in eastern DRC and Ituri are expected to exacerbate the issue by interfering with government plans and its sources of funding. Remember that decades of civil unrest, conflicts, wars, and instability in DRC followed the deterioration of the agricultural sector, which started primarily with the Zairianization of 1973. There are also issues with corruption, misappropriation of monies meant for social programs like agriculture, and land disputes and land grabs.

Access to Agricultural Information, Technologies, and Credit

Post-harvest technology, enhanced plant varieties, and IPM strategies are all examples of agricultural innovations. For instance, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens has been discovered to have promising potential as a biocontrol agent against various plant fungal diseases in corn-based farms. As a common method of soil conservation, less tillage helps keep soil from washing away and allows for more water to be stored in the ground. Despite the better yield potential of modern maize, rice, bean, and cassava varieties compared to traditional varieties, adoption of these technologies has remained low in DRC in an effort to enhance food security. As the year 2000 begins, thousands of smallholder farmers in the Congo have gathered together in farmers’ “groups and field farmers’ schools” to learn the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques, promoted by FAO, as part of a large urban and peri-urban horticulture project for sustainable vegetable production.

Unfortunately, most of the new techniques these farmers used throughout the project’s implementation (2000-2012) have been abandoned in favor of more conventional methods of crop production. This dismal performance prompts inquiries into the decision-making processes of smallholder farmers and the obstacles they confront in gaining access to, controlling, and benefiting from sustainable agricultural advances. This holds true because farmers’ willingness to pay for new products and agricultural machinery may be affected by their awareness of the benefits they would get from using such products.

Several related variables account for the difficulties farmers in the DRC have in gaining access to relevant data. First, owing to dysfunction and low endowment of extension service, the link between research institutes and farmers has been severed, if not ruptured. Major barriers to the adoption of agricultural technology and agricultural machinery include a lack of knowledge and inadequate extension services, both of which slow the effective attainment of the established goals of enhancing the socioeconomic welfare of smallholder farmers. Second, the government has not been able to build up an information and alert system, and regularly gather data to evaluate and comprehend farmers’ difficulties, due to the low percentage of the national budget allotted to agriculture and also insecurity in rural regions. Third, smallholder farmers have a harder time transporting their goods to markets because of deteriorating roads and a lack of interprovincial connectivity.

Access to finance

Food insecurity in the area is only one of the many potential side effects of this situation, along with issues like extreme price swings in the agricultural product market. In addition, there is a favorable correlation between having access to financial resources and enhancing agriculturally-based food security. This means that smallholder farmers who have access to financing in order to buy inputs like tractors, farm implements, enhanced technology, fertilizers, and irrigation equipment enjoy higher crop yields and thus higher incomes. Farmers who diversify their crops are better able to weather the effects of climate change and insect infestations.

The socio-economic, technical, and institutional elements that affect smallholder farmers’ access to the credit include education, application processes, access to land, income level, farm size, participation in economic organizations, savings, crop cultivated, interest rate, and distance to the bank. Moreover, the high-interest rates, the absence of collateral, and the lenders’ assessment of the hazardous nature of agricultural operations have all contributed to the farmers’ reluctance to seek credit or to be authorized for a loan. Those in need of Massey Ferguson tractors for sale, New Holland tractors for sale, farm implements or combine harvesters in the Democratic Republic of the Congo may continue to rely on Tractors PK to connect them with reliable suppliers at affordable prices. As the biggest exporter of agricultural machinery from Pakistan, Tractors PK is also the most trusted source for tractors in DRC. When compared to the competition, our tractors are of the best value.

Adoption of Conservation Agriculture in the DRC

Adoption of Conservation agriculture in the DRC

The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) made a commitment in 2013 to prioritize the sustained improvement of agricultural production as part of the National Agriculture Investment Plan (PNIA) of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme. The term “Conservation Agriculture” (CA) refers to a management strategy centered on three complementary tenets: (i) no or little mechanical disturbance of the soil on a continuous basis, (ii) a mulch layer that is kept in place year-round, and (iii) a rotation of crops to avoid soil monotony. Due to its potential extensive advantages in economic, environmental, and social realms, CA is a promising idea for sustainable agriculture.

Adoption of Conservation agriculture in the DRC

Benefits of Conservation Agriculture

When compared to the prevalent practice of slash-and-burn agriculture in the DRC, the economic advantages of CA are measured in the amount of time and effort saved by farmers. Farmers who began using CA spent far less time weeding their fields than their counterparts who did not. Weeds are less of a problem when there is a lot of mulch on the ground, therefore there is less need to weed.

Potentially higher yields are another economic benefit. One of the key agronomic advantages of CA is that it improves soil structure and increases organic matter, both of which make the land more productive. Because of this, water and nutrients are utilized more effectively, which has the ability to both protect the soil and boost agricultural output. Financial gains (from increased yields) and cost savings may result from adding organic matter to boost fertility (reducing the need for inorganic fertilizer). Soil erosion prevention and carbon sequestration are two environmental benefits that make California an attractive location for climate-smart farming, and these advantages are mostly the consequence of mulching and the decrease of deforestation due to slash-and-burn techniques.

Factors Driving CA adoption

Scholars in DRC took an interest in agricultural inventions since so many DRC farmers depend on subsistence farming and many of these tools are designed to boost crop yields and hence farmers’ incomes. Most respondents who were asked about the factors that influence a farm’s choice to implement CA cited farm size, education, financial prosperity, and, to a lesser extent, age and risk perception. There are four types of exogenous variables that influence CA adoption: farm biophysical aspects, farm financial/management traits, and other external variables. The adoption of soil conservation measures is influenced by a number of variables, including those that are unique to the farm, the farmer, the technology, and the institutions involved. Each nation, region, or even village will have its own unique set of factors that contribute to adoption.

Increased CA adoption was seen among credit-using farmers. The adoption of CA in low-income farming areas may be boosted by a CA program that expands farmers’ access to financing. It seems that farmers who are unable to access loans are less likely to adopt CA, which might lead to a worsening of food insecurity, poverty, and the slowing of the DRC’s transition from a slash-and-burn agricultural system to one that better takes use of the ecosystem services. Various variables’ impacts varied across regions for a variety of reasons. Training in CA unquestionably boosts uptake. It’s possible that investing in CA training for single women may yield significant results.

Economic Benefits of CA

Adaptation to climate change and the resulting sensitivity of farmers, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and improved ecosystem functioning and services are just some of the long-term advantages of CA. Since CA has the ability to store subsurface moisture more effectively, its advantages would be especially crucial for locations ravaged by drought throughout Africa. By reducing labor-intensive duties like ploughing and weeding, CA helps smallholder farmers satisfy their requirement to spend less time on agricultural output (per unit of land) and free up more time to focus on other aspects of their businesses.

Looking specifically at how CA affected food availability, we can conclude that it had no discernible effect on the food consumption score. The average productivity and farm net income for maize, beans, bananas, and cassava all increased after using CA, a new method for managing crops. When intercropping was also included in CA, it increased crop returns for smallholder farmers, particularly the poorest among them.

Access to Mechanization

As one of the leading tractor dealers in DRC, Tractors PK is well-equipped to ensure that farmers in the country have access to CA equipment, especially no-till planters. Pakistan is a major supplier of agricultural machinery to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This includes a wide variety of tractors and no-till planter types. What kinds of agricultural machinery are needed for what kinds of CA chores by smallholder farmers vary widely by country, region, and even neighborhood. The private sector may supplement government efforts by providing agricultural machinery like tractors in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (for example, by organizing field days and improving extension efforts).

A Review of Agricultural Mechanization Status in Botswana

Agricultural Mechanization Status in Botswana

Because of the high expense of hired labor, tractors and other agricultural machinery may be especially important for big farms in communities with both large and small farmers. Because of the economies of scale that come with purchasing agricultural machinery and tractors, mechanization is becoming more popular on farms of this size. As a consequence, bigger farmers in Botswana are more likely to be the first tractor owners, and they often rent their tractors out to smaller farmers who don’t have their own.

Labor Saving Effects of the Mechanization

In most cases, the amount of time spent weeding and harvesting may be reduced by a small percentage due to the use of mechanized plowing. When the cost of hired labor rises to a point where it constitutes a significant portion of overall production expenses, even the smallest farmers begin to seek mechanization technology in order to cut their labor and total production costs. Despite the fact that mechanized land preparation decreases work for this process, it does not necessarily lessen the need for labor as a whole. When comparing fields plowed by farm implements and tractors to those plowed by draught animals, we find that although tractor plowing reduces the work input for plowing, it increases the labor input for weeding, harvesting, and threshing. Since weeds tend to recover more slowly in fields plowed by tractors, farmers may often save labor for weeding and land preparation by using tractor-based mechanization. As a result, it is probable that farmers’ bottom lines will improve as a result of mechanization. In part because of this labor-saving feature, mechanization has lately gained popularity among Botswana’s smallholders.

Demand for tractors

Power tillers, which typically have 20 horsepower or less, are in demand because they are more maneuverable and can be used to their full potential in systems with small landholdings, they are less expensive than 4-wheel tractors, they have the potential for off-farm use, and they are suitable for wet paddy. Many mechanization advocates have pushed for the promotion of 2-wheel tractors in Botswana, mostly for the first three of these reasons, even though they are seldom used unless when governments actively support them. 2-wheel tractors, on the other hand, are often thought to be difficult to apply across much of Botswana and are not ideal for traditional tillage of dry, heavy soils. These elements aid in explaining why they have rapidly increased in irrigation projects in Botswana. Contrarily, 4-wheel tractors are more often used than 2-wheel tractors, generally for crop rotations including both rice and crops other than rice.

Demand for mechanized harvesting

Mechanized harvesting is possible with the use of combine harvesters of varying sizes, which harvest and thresh the grain. Despite its relative rarity, mechanical harvesting seems to be on the rise in several areas, particularly wheat and rice irrigation systems. When the smallholder’s opportunity cost of labor during threshing is factored in, as well as the potential crop loss associated with hand harvesting and threshing, the combined harvester service becomes more appealing and, in some cases, less expensive than a traditional labor.

Import of agricultural machinery

Agricultural Mechanization Status in Botswana

Botswana relies nearly entirely on imported tractors, farm tools, and combine harvesters since the continent lacks the ability to produce them. This means that brands like Massey Ferguson tractors in Botswana and New Holland tractors in Botswana dominate the market. Botswana’s mechanization patterns mirror those of the rest of the world’s industrial sector. Historically, Europe and Japan have been the main suppliers of agricultural machinery for export. However, in recent years, there has been a rise in the amount of agricultural machinery imported from other nations. Substantial state R&D or consumer subsidies are typically provided for agricultural machinery production in countries like Pakistan. One of the most trusted tractor dealers in Botswana, for new and secondhand tractors and other agricultural machinery, is Tractors PK, a private importer. Private importers like Tractors PK supply spare parts for the brands they sell and offer repair services after the sale. Private dealers rely heavily on government institutions and government/donor-funded initiatives; however large-scale commercial farms and plantations also make up a significant portion of their clientele. Due to the high price and unfavorable financing options, new imported agricultural machinery is typically out of reach for small-scale farmers.

Effects of Climate Change on Agricultural Yields of Ghana

Effect of Climate Change in Ghana

More than half of Ghanaians are directly or indirectly employed in the agricultural sector, which plays a significant role in the country’s economy by ensuring its people have access to nutritious food and generating revenue. With its dependence on rain-fed agriculture and susceptibility to drought, Ghana’s agricultural industry is particularly vulnerable to the effects of a changing climate. The majority of farms in Ghana are owned by small families and rely on rain-fed agriculture, making the country vulnerable to climate change. Understanding the potential impact of climate change on Ghana’s agricultural industry is essential for making preparations to deal with it. Unpredictable and varied rainfall, higher temperatures, and longer dry seasons are only some of the ways in which climate change is affecting Ghana’s agricultural sector.

Changes in the yields of the most important food sources

This strong and non-stationary variability among chosen food crops was seen in northern Ghana, where production trends differed greatly across different types of these crops. That means yearly rain-fed crop yields followed the same pattern as precipitation fluctuations. As opposed to other crops, rice is grown using a combination of rain and irrigation. Thus, it is anticipated that the district with the most readily available irrigation for rice farmers would have the best output overall. For instance, farmers may need to use adaptation methods like irrigation more quickly if the advent of rainfall is delayed and the number of dry days increases. However, only a tiny fraction of farmers in Ghana actually use irrigation, despite the fact that it is the single most effective adaptation method for mitigating the effects of climate change and variability.

The development of high-yielding and weather-resistant crop types may account for the recent increases in millet and maize production. Increased agricultural variety is critical for sustainable food production in Ghana, as seen by the country’s widespread use of many maize and millet cultivars. Because of their genetic variety, crop types may respond to and even benefit from shifting climates and other environmental factors by becoming more hardy and resistant to things like heat, drought, pests, and parasites.

Interventions to cope with climate change’s effects

Over the course of many decades, farmers have been adjusting to the inevitable changes in precipitation and average temperature. Farmers in northeastern Ghana have diversified their crop and animal holdings, increased their use of irrigation, and expanded into nonagricultural revenue sources in order to better their economic situations. Institutional support for adaptation is a key factor in farmers’ capacity to deal with predicted changes in rainfall and temperature. Institutional aid must take into account the needs of both men and women farmers. Because the negative effects of climate change on agriculture will be perceived unequally throughout the nation, it is crucial to include farmers’ perspectives in adaptation planning. Adaptive capability is predicted to vary between agroecological zones and within families due to resource disparities such as lack of proper agricultural machinery, tractors and farm implements. Females, like males, have agency and valuable information that may be used to design and implement climate adaptation interventions and to address the negative effects of climate change on food security and family well-being.

Farmers’ capacity to adjust to climate change effects and dangers is crucial to adaptation. Their socioeconomic status affects their adaptability. Assistance might come from the government, NGOs, and other agricultural players such as Tractors PK as it is one of the top tractor dealers in Ghana. The provision of community irrigation systems, funding for research institutes to produce climate-tolerant crop varieties, providing proper agricultural machinery, agricultural insurance, capacity-building for farmers, chances for secure income, and credit and extension service are all examples of this kind of assistance.

How Tractors PK could help?

Tractors PK is a supplier of farm implements and other agriculture machinery such as Massey Ferguson tractors for sale, New Holland tractors for sale, combine harvesters, etc. to farmers in Ghana. Tractors PK could be able to help the smaller farms in Ghana to get their hands on tractors at costs that are more affordable to them. Tractors PK offers reasonably priced agricultural machinery and other farm implements in Ghana, which may be useful for small-scale Ghanaian farmers. These farmers in Ghana can now kick back and take pleasure in their jobs thanks to Tractors PK.

Climate Change Knowledge and Coping Strategies of Smallholder Farmers of Botswana

Strategies of Smallholder Farmers of Botswana

Local farmers in Botswana still rely on an agrarian economy, making them especially susceptible to the effects of fluctuating weather. They do small-scale farming, without proper agricultural machinery, and raise animals for survival. A large portion of rural residents relies on subsistence farming for their income and survival. Both the Okavango Delta and the Chobe River in Botswana are permanent river systems, yet the local people are nevertheless affected by weather changes. This is quite worrying. Some farmers in the area are trying to weather the effects of climate change by using new, more resilient practices. Local farmers’ coping mechanisms are often informed by the context of their everyday social interactions. They draw on their past experiences to persevere in subsistence farming despite unpredictable precipitation and periodic flooding. This is augmented by gathering veld products and fishing. In most cases, they cannot market farming without constant aid in growing capacity.

The level of climate change literacy among farmers

Botswana’s small-scale farmers learned what they knew via a combination of sources, on-the-job training, personal experience, personal observation and experimentation, and indigenous knowledge. They also discussed the difficulties associated with planting seeds deep below, the damage to crops caused by unpredictable rainfall, the lack of agricultural machinery and the overall poor yields. However, government authorities often fail to notify small-scale farmers about impending droughts or floods. Contacts with higher levels of the organization, such as government organizations, provide access to new information and technology, such as that shown by small-scale farmers. The weather service has not been communicating with farmers about impending rain in a timely manner. It turned out that some farmers were able to rely on their cultural or indigenous expertise. This was shown in the example where farmers blamed deforestation, a major contributor to climate change, on practices that no longer considered traditional knowledge pertaining to taboos.

Different small-scale farmers in the Okavango Delta and along the Chobe River know the ecological, historical, and social elements of their communities in relation to rainfall and farming. Using the community as an integrative environment for learning at all levels, place-based education is founded on the resources, concerns, and values of the local community. Taking this approach helps locals better understand and value their unique cultural and ecological settings.

Farmers’ Coping Strategies

It was clear that small-scale farmers in the Okavango and Chobe regions were vulnerable to climate-related shocks and hazards such as droughts, floods, livestock diseases, and declining crop yields. Farmers, whose livelihoods depend entirely on farming, face grave dangers from all of these. There is significant evidence that some of them have developed coping methods in response to these hazards.

Some farmers, drawing on their intimate familiarity with the climate, decided to plant drought-resistant watermelons and millet instead of the more conventionally successful crops. Some farmers, like those in Parakarungu, relied on local traditional knowledge; for example, one farmer learned fishing and blacksmithing from his father via decades of passed-down stories. The other farmer on a lesser scale is likewise making baskets. In most Botswanan villages, this is a passed-down art form. The fundamental concepts of knowledge, competencies, and agency grow and give actual chances for learning within the context of the lived experiences of these small-scale farmers within the framework of place-based education.

Adaptation relies heavily on farmers’ flexibility in the face of climate change challenges. The degree to which they are able to adjust is influenced by their socioeconomic level. The government, NGOs, and agricultural companies, like Tractors PK one of the leading tractor dealers in Botswana, all pitch in to help. Examples of this kind of aid include the distribution of coping strategies for communities, the provision of funding for research institutes to produce climate-tolerant crop varieties, the distribution of appropriate agricultural machinery, agricultural insurance, capacity-building for farmers, the provision of chances for a secure income, and the distribution of credit and extension service.

What could Tractors Botswana do?

Farmers in Botswana may purchase tractors from Tractors PK, as well as other farm implements and agricultural machinery including Massey Ferguson tractors for sale, New Holland tractors for sale, combine harvesters, and more. Smaller farms in Botswana may be able to benefit from Tractors PK’s ability to provide tractors at reduced prices. Tractors PK is a company based in Botswana that sells tractors and other farm implements at prices that are affordable for small-scale farmers. Thanks to Tractors PK, these farmers in Botswana can relax and take pride in what they do.

Impact of Mechanization on Smallholder Farmers of Botswana

Mechanization Farmers in Botswana
Mechanization Farmers in Botswana

Botswana’s small farmers are notoriously resource-poor and payload-challenged. This implies they are not very good at saving money and that they put a lot of strain on the planet’s natural resources. Reduced purchasing power means less money spent on agricultural power and mechanization inputs, which in turn means lower land and labor productivity. Consequently, poverty is a vicious circle from which few people ever escape. A more virtuous cycle will emerge if the demand for mechanization inputs can be raised. The resultant boost in productivity will increase savings, which will fuel a rise in demand for productivity-boosting inputs like agricultural machinery. This is a self-perpetuating loop since these measures will ultimately result in higher output.

The mechanization options

There should not be any centralized authority over the mechanization choices open to smallholder farmers. Instead, it is important to listen to the concerns and suggestions of everyone who has a stake in the matter. Farmers, factories, merchants, universities, NGOs, and government agencies will all play a part. It is imperative that the private sector, such as Tractors PK, should be engaged in the provision of suitable mechanization choices, and that those participating in the supply and maintenance chains for mechanization inputs, such as tractors, farm implements, combine harvesters, etc., be able to earn a livelihood from doing so. In most cases, it is preferable to provide farmers a range of alternatives from which to choose and to provide guidance, if needed, while they make their final decision. Their goal is to set up a system of sustainable delivery assistance in which farmers and other end-users (such as service providers) may pick and choose from a broad range of agricultural power and agricultural machinery.

Sustainable Mechanization

Mechanization of agriculture on a small scale has to be a long-term goal. Gains made in the short term without considering the full scope of their consequences or including measures to ensure their durability will not lead to something productive or long-lasting. Stability in the economy and society, as well as the natural world, is essential. Farmers must see a return on their investment in mechanization, either via improved output or a higher market value for their products. For the sector to be sustainable, there need to be strong linkages between the stakeholders, and as was previously emphasized, they must all be able to make a living from their businesses, which is why the commercial and financial ties between farmers and the other stakeholders must be considered in the economic aspect.

Role of Public and Private Sectors

There has been much discussion about the failure of public sector mechanization initiatives in Botswana. It was the objective of rural mechanization services (also known as tractor hiring programs) to help smallholder farmers get access to tractor-powered agricultural machinery. The services, however, amounted to a subsidy from the government and were thus simple to eliminate whenever political priorities moved. Timeliness, so crucial for yield optimization, was often sacrificed due to the schemes’ bloated bureaucratic structure, which struggled to adjust to the seasonal character of agricultural operations, leaving farmer customers disappointed. Long distances between farms were another issue, as were unreliable sources of clean fuel, the lack of readily available replacement components, and the lack of adequate maintenance and repair facilities. There are serious doubts about the long-term financial feasibility of publicly funded mechanized services, hence they were mainly dismantled. The takeaway here is that the public sector should not try to deliver mechanization for smallholder farmers, but rather should enable it.

On the flip side, it is the private sector, such as Tractors PK, that should be given the authority to provide the smallholders with the agricultural machinery that they need via market-based distribution networks. Because only sustainable business models can compete in the long run, this will guarantee a continuous supply of agricultural machinery and farm implements independent of political and economic shifts.

Role of Tractors PK

Without a doubt, Tractors PK is one of the most trustworthy tractor dealers in Botswana. To assist smaller farms in Botswana to afford tractors, Tractors PK offers financing options. Tractors PK provides small-scale farmers in Botswana with reasonably priced tractors and other agricultural machinery. Because of Tractors PK, smallholder farmers in Botswana can now relax and take pride in their work. We are confident in our capacity to see this through to completion since agricultural machinery is so dependable.

Restructuring the Agriculture Sector of Togo

Agricultural Machinery in Togo

After a 15-year period of donor disengagement owing to political upheaval and six years of suspended payments due to arrears, the World Bank reengaged with Togo in 2008 as the nation was recovering from its period of isolation. After a six-year suspension owing to arrears, the World Bank has resumed payouts. Transitional and emergency responses were two of the primary concerns of the PASA. It is time to make the switch to a more long-term and long-lasting solution. Making ensuring the ESOP model is maintained when the project is complete, as well as investing in infrastructure, such as new irrigation systems, is essential to this solution.

After being asked what would enhance their lives during the Togo Systematic Country Diagnostic (SCD) consultation, rural people often said that they needed greater control over their water resources. Togo’s farmers and the country’s agriculture as a whole benefit greatly from better access to funding, mechanization, agricultural machinery, insurance for farmers, power, rural roads, and other basic amenities, as well as better access mechanized farming. It has been difficult for Togo to enhance agricultural machinery and production and diversify into goods with a greater added value despite its natural comparative advantage, which has hampered the sector and the country’s overall economic development. Effective regulations for ensuring appropriate inputs (seeds, fertilizers) for farmers and developing more accessible markets for commodities are both lacking, which is one of the key reasons for agriculture’s lack of productivity. To put it another way, this results in lower agricultural earnings as a result of lower investment and production.

Agriculture in Togo

Of Togo’s seven million residents, agriculture employs more than half of the population. Agriculture accounted for 30 percent of all economic activity in the nation during the preceding five years. Despite the fast growth of metropolitan regions, the majority of the population still lives in rural areas, and more than two-thirds of these families (about 2.8 million out of 4.2 million) are deemed to be living in poverty.

Nearly 14,000 small-holder farmers and 3,300 livestock farmers have been helped by a multi-donor trust fund, the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP), which was established in 2010 to improve food security in the world’s poorest countries, through the Agriculture Sector Support Project (PASA). About 55% of Togo’s homes were poor as of 2015, with the bulk of these dwellings being in rural regions and deprived of essential agricultural machinery. Having a first-hand look at the challenges and limits faced by farmers in Togo was critical to my creation of Togo’s Country Partnership Framework. ESOPs (Entreprises et services d’organisation des producteurs) are the primary means by which rice, soy, cassava, and maize farmers participate in PASA. They were formed by the initiative with the purpose of uniting farmers and helping them acquire access to inputs (such as seeds and fertilizers), and improve their yields and quality while also selling their output for a greater price than they could on their own. There are twenty ESOPs across the country, and each one is run by an independent non-profit organization that is responsible for coordinating the farmers who are participating. To get the company up and running, the ESOPs help individuals pool their resources such as agricultural machinery or farm implements for sale to pay for the inputs, supplies, and equipment they need to process their crops. They also help with the costs associated with starting up a business. Investments in irrigation infrastructure, which are crucial in a nation where agriculture is mostly dependent on rain and where climate change has made the rainy seasons more unpredictable, are absent from the proposal. To make matters worse, there are no infrastructural investments in the plan.

Mechanization of Agriculture in Togo

Farm Machinery in Togo

Rural change in Togo is increasingly dependent on agricultural mechanization, which is often referred to as the utilization of agricultural machinery and animal power to undertake activities such as plowing, threshing, and harvesting. Due to rising urbanization and the resulting rise in people moving to cities or working in rural jobs other than farming, Togo’s agricultural system is becoming more stressed. Consequently, Togo’s farmers have shown higher interest in additional automation as a consequence of this. A variety of factors may be to blame for this increased urge for automation, including the following:

  • The market demand for agricultural products such as grains, which need more labor than other crops due to rapid urbanization, rises;
  • Farmers in Togo formerly used tractors for land preparation, but this practice has been replaced by the rise of medium-sized farms. However, the number of medium-sized farmers who own tractors has recently increased. Using tractors, these farmers may not only expand their fields but can also provide plowing services to other farmers in the vicinity;
  • Due to issues such as growing rural costs and seasonal labor shortages, smallholders’ demand for automation has intensified in recent years. Tractor plowing services make it possible for many smaller farmers to successfully plant their crops on time;
  • The rise in the number of medium-sized farmers who own tractors has resulted in the development of a private market for the employment of mechanization. Those who own tractors are able to make the most of their assets while also helping farmers who cannot afford their own tractors. These markets seem to be the most successful option for delivering mechanization in Togo based on the most current statistics.

Although the mechanization market in Togo is still developing, the government must step in to prevent the inevitable failures of the market. People who would want to purchase a tractor in Togo but cannot afford it because of a lack or non-existence of credit markets may not be able to do so. It is because of this that private banks are often unwilling to lend money to farmers in order to acquire agricultural machinery because of the difficulty in registering collateral in many land tenure arrangements. Tractor owners may not have the knowledge and experience to connect with potential clients, which increases the danger of a tractor purchase. In order to enable the development of agricultural machinery that is more compact and better fits the needs of the local area, the Togo government might give financial support for research and development. Despite the fact that smaller equipment is often less costly, buyers, private dealers, and small-scale farmers still need to be able to operate and maintain the agricultural machinery. It is also possible for the government to cut import duties on replacement parts and to promote adaptable farm implements for sale that enable tractors to do other activities in addition to plowing.

Agriculture in Togo

Generally speaking, the soils of Togo are considered fairly fertile (maize is grown on most of them). When it comes to cultivating crops, the Kara region has a reputation for being tough because of the region’s rocky geomorphology. Togo’s agricultural sector gets just 2% of the country’s bank loans in 2019, and the sector’s lack of funding and technical assistance is a major problem (only 25 percent of farms receive technical support of monitoring structures). As a result, just 16 percent of the farms employ fertilizers, and over 90 percent of the farmed fields are still utilizing outdated agricultural machinery (hoe and cutlass). Another factor to consider is that there is a wide variation in yields from one place to the next. This area is at risk from a decrease in forest cover and an increase in land pressure. Togo’s government has made a deliberate effort to modernize the agricultural sector in addition to boosting productivity. Farmers’ access to funding for greater agricultural production has been expanded through introducing agroforestry methods, enhancing agricultural research, increasing the use of agricultural machinery, automation and fertilizers, strengthening agricultural value chains, and facilitating the rise of agripreneurs.

Who is the best tractor brand in Ghana?

New Holland Tractors
New Holland Tractors

With the modification in science, everything is possible now, As there are hundreds of changes done in various places. Farming had also become more accessible for the farmers out there with the different techniques and technology usage. Thus, farmers have been offered the easiest and secure way to get their machinery for the fields to complete their work within no time.

When it comes to the best tractors company in Ghana, everyone had only one name in their mind: Massey Ferguson and New Holland. Their exceptionality in developing a powerful engine and massive horsepower has become the first choice for farmers worldwide.

Massey Ferguson Tractors

Massey Ferguson, the tractor manufacturing company that makes the most economical and reliable tractors. They produce multi-purpose tractors that can plough, harvest, transport, and even for road construction. They have become the most popular name in the industry.

The tractors manufactured by Massey Ferguson are the most economical, with the highest horsepower all around the globe. They are fuel-efficient and come with a high-performance diesel engine. The additional benefit of these tractors is that each model came with the spring suspension deluxe seat. They are ideal and versatile all-around tractors that every farmer can trust without a single doubt.

The hydrostatic power steering in one of its models makes it unique from the other tractor manufacturing companies. Some of the new models of the Massey Ferguson Tractors came with the aerodynamic exterior shape having a stylish wrap and grill.

New Holland Tractors

If we say that Massey Ferguson tractors can be the no . 1 tractor manufacturing company globally, then no one can forget New Holland. Compared to Massey Ferguson, it is placed as the third-best tractor manufacturing company in the world.

They are primarily used in the US and are popular among African and Asian countries, especially in Ghana. This company has been recognized because of its valuable features. They are premium suppliers of tractors worldwide.

The main features of these tractors are their hydrostatic power steering system and comfy deluxe seats.  The automatic hydraulic system came with the Lift O Matic technology to do their plowing and harvesting work efficiently with these tractors. On the whole, the New Holland tractor went with an advanced engine and steering system.

The price of New holland tractors is a bit heavier on the farmer’s pocket than the Massey Ferguson Economical price range.

Euro Ford Tractors

Euro Ford Tractors compete efficiently with any other brand in Ghana. They came with the EURO-II technology with high performance and economic engine while plunger pump makes fueling easier. You can do any agricultural and commercial tasks with them as they are the most suitable economical friendly tractors manufacturer.

They came with a 1-year warranty, in case if they don’t function properly within a year, you can replace them with the new one. Moreover, the brake system of these tractors is of multi-disc that are fully sealed. Addi5tionally, the water cooling system is attached to automatically gives a cooling effect to the oil efficiently.

After going through the features and specifications of each brand, It was clear that Massey Ferguson is best in all aspects, from the price range to the advanced features.

Top Tractor Dealers in Ghana

Tractor Dealers in Ghana
Tractor Dealers in Ghana

The tractors are one of the most used technologies that have remarkably changed the working style of the farmers. Now, They are used worldwide, helping farmers reduce their workload by doing mechanical tasks efficiently, saving their time.

Today’s farmers can’t do it without tractors when it comes to agricultural rolling to plough crops. But the farmer must buy a tractor of high power and durability. If it’s not, then it’s garbage for them. So, we came up with the best tractors dealer in Ghana that every farmer can trust.

Each country came out from the development phase in the farming industry as hundreds of thousands of manufacturing companies have captured the world’s attention. The critical element of these companies is to enhance the production and growth of food resources.

Within these companies, three of them have maintained a good reputation in the sector of tractor and farm equipment manufacturing.

Tractor PK

It is one of the leading tractor exporters of Pakistan. It offers a massive range of tractors made up of high-quality material and helps farmers accomplish their respective farming goals. They deal with all types of farm implements like,

  • Disc Plough
    Disc Harrow
  • Boom Sprayer
    Farm trolley
    Mould Board Plough

Tractors PK lead in the world of exporter of agricultural tractors and all types of farm implements needed for farming from Pakistan to Africa especially in Ghana. They deal in two main tractors brands,

Massey Ferguson Tractors

With years of experience in tractors, Massey Ferguson modified their tractors according to the farmer’s needs. Tractors PK has 50hp to 85hp ranges of tractors introduced by Massey Ferguson.

New Holland Tractor

These are the world leaders in the tractor industry, offering every farming implement with tractors of various types. Tractor PK supplies these tractors all over the world with the assurance of originality.

Car Junction

 Car Junction is a highly respected vehicle dealer initially located in Japan and has spread their offices worldwide. They all deal with the tractor supplies, selling them at a reasonable price.

They deal with the tractors and have a stock of other vehicles of leading brands like Toyota, Nissan, and Mitsubishi. But if you want a car from any other brand, they can arrange it for you by their contacts with every vehicle brand.

They offer the Japanese used tractors for sale at a reasonable price at which customers get to agree. These discounted stock of tractors are from the most leading brands like

  • Massey Ferguson
  • Kubota
  • New Holland
  • John deere
  • Ford

With the most satisfied customer, they have become the most leading and trustable tractor exporters. They export them worldwide from the Asian countries to the eastern parts.

Massey Ferguson Ghana

The prominent agricultural tractor and the manufacturer of high-ending farming implements award go to Massey Ferguson Ghana as they have been ruling the tractors market for over a half-decade. Their tractors had been loved by most of the farmers worldwide because of it’s finest quality and capability.

Massey Ferguson tractors in Ghana had become the leading one because the tractors they offer are the most inexpensive, accessible, and can function efficiently. The manufacturing of different horsepower tractors according to climate change catches the attention of the Massey Ferguson customers. The improved harness set came with heat shrinkage; the most shocking is the waterproof couplers. Massey Ferguson tractors came with the Mid-Mounted bigger balancer for smooth running and reduced engine vibration. These tractors have Hydraulically actuated and oil-immersed multi-disc brake systems.