Farm mechanisation and employment in developing countries

Abstract

In Africa, where communal ownership of land and owner occupying small holders prevail, mechanization has proceeded relatively slowly . with little marked effect on income distribution employment. And whilst a faster rate of mechanization would undoubtedly give rise to some degree of increase in income income disparity and labour displacement, there the problem is, given its firmly based uni-modal farm structure, one of identifying situations where the use of tractors is economic. There is, moreover, a need to evaluate the forms of mechanization which are appropriate to its small holder structure.