Motivations and incentives for mechanization in Zambia: a mixed-methods analysis
Smallholder farmers in Zambia face low agricultural productivity, and while tractor mechanization offers a solution, adoption rates remain low. The contextual factors driving this low uptake, including farmers’ preferences for different ownership and financing models, are not well understood. This s...
| Autores principales: | , , , , , , , |
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| Formato: | Journal Article |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
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Taylor & Francis
2025
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| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179022 |
| _version_ | 1855538015822151680 |
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| author | Mulungu, Kelvin Ngoma, Lushomo Molly Mhembere, Rumbidzai Manyanga, Mark Simutowe, Esau Thierfelder, Christian Matin, Md. Abdul Ngoma, Hambulo |
| author_browse | Manyanga, Mark Matin, Md. Abdul Mhembere, Rumbidzai Mulungu, Kelvin Ngoma, Hambulo Ngoma, Lushomo Molly Simutowe, Esau Thierfelder, Christian |
| author_facet | Mulungu, Kelvin Ngoma, Lushomo Molly Mhembere, Rumbidzai Manyanga, Mark Simutowe, Esau Thierfelder, Christian Matin, Md. Abdul Ngoma, Hambulo |
| author_sort | Mulungu, Kelvin |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Smallholder farmers in Zambia face low agricultural productivity, and while tractor mechanization offers a solution, adoption rates remain low. The contextual factors driving this low uptake, including farmers’ preferences for different ownership and financing models, are not well understood. This study uses a mixed-methods approach, including surveys with 208 farmers, 18 focus group discussions (FGDs) and 28 key informant interviews (KIIs) across three districts in Zambia to examine these issues. The analysis shows that the motivations for tractor ownership are centred around both productivity enhancement and income generation through service provision, with farmers valuing tractors’ ability to improve operational timeliness given narrowing planting windows. The results reveal a clear divergence in ownership preferences. Individual ownership is favoured by male farmers and those in more mechanized districts seeking operational autonomy, while group ownership is preferred by female farmers and those in less-mechanized areas for its cost-sharing and risk-management benefits. In terms of incentives for ownership, risk-contingent credit (RCC), particularly when bundled with repair insurance, emerges as the most desirable incentive for encouraging tractor ownership. This highlights the need to de-risk mechanization investments. Key barriers to adoption include high maintenance costs, poor access to spare parts and the financial strains due to social obligations. These results demonstrate that a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to promoting mechanization is ineffective. Instead, successful interventions must be flexible, gender-responsive and tailored to the local context. Such an approach would likely increase ownership and improve livelihoods. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace179022 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis |
| publisherStr | Taylor & Francis |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1790222025-12-19T02:15:31Z Motivations and incentives for mechanization in Zambia: a mixed-methods analysis Mulungu, Kelvin Ngoma, Lushomo Molly Mhembere, Rumbidzai Manyanga, Mark Simutowe, Esau Thierfelder, Christian Matin, Md. Abdul Ngoma, Hambulo agricultural mechanization ownership gender risk management smallholders Smallholder farmers in Zambia face low agricultural productivity, and while tractor mechanization offers a solution, adoption rates remain low. The contextual factors driving this low uptake, including farmers’ preferences for different ownership and financing models, are not well understood. This study uses a mixed-methods approach, including surveys with 208 farmers, 18 focus group discussions (FGDs) and 28 key informant interviews (KIIs) across three districts in Zambia to examine these issues. The analysis shows that the motivations for tractor ownership are centred around both productivity enhancement and income generation through service provision, with farmers valuing tractors’ ability to improve operational timeliness given narrowing planting windows. The results reveal a clear divergence in ownership preferences. Individual ownership is favoured by male farmers and those in more mechanized districts seeking operational autonomy, while group ownership is preferred by female farmers and those in less-mechanized areas for its cost-sharing and risk-management benefits. In terms of incentives for ownership, risk-contingent credit (RCC), particularly when bundled with repair insurance, emerges as the most desirable incentive for encouraging tractor ownership. This highlights the need to de-risk mechanization investments. Key barriers to adoption include high maintenance costs, poor access to spare parts and the financial strains due to social obligations. These results demonstrate that a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to promoting mechanization is ineffective. Instead, successful interventions must be flexible, gender-responsive and tailored to the local context. Such an approach would likely increase ownership and improve livelihoods. 2025-12 2025-12-18T21:10:10Z 2025-12-18T21:10:10Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179022 en Open Access application/pdf Taylor & Francis Ngoma, L. M., Mhembere, R., Manyanga, M., & Matin, M. A. (2025). Motivations and incentives for mechanization in Zambia: a mixed-methods analysis. Cogent Social Sciences, 11(1), 2588017. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2025.2588017 |
| spellingShingle | agricultural mechanization ownership gender risk management smallholders Mulungu, Kelvin Ngoma, Lushomo Molly Mhembere, Rumbidzai Manyanga, Mark Simutowe, Esau Thierfelder, Christian Matin, Md. Abdul Ngoma, Hambulo Motivations and incentives for mechanization in Zambia: a mixed-methods analysis |
| title | Motivations and incentives for mechanization in Zambia: a mixed-methods analysis |
| title_full | Motivations and incentives for mechanization in Zambia: a mixed-methods analysis |
| title_fullStr | Motivations and incentives for mechanization in Zambia: a mixed-methods analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Motivations and incentives for mechanization in Zambia: a mixed-methods analysis |
| title_short | Motivations and incentives for mechanization in Zambia: a mixed-methods analysis |
| title_sort | motivations and incentives for mechanization in zambia a mixed methods analysis |
| topic | agricultural mechanization ownership gender risk management smallholders |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179022 |
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