Farmer Perceptions on Appropriate Agricultural Mechanization and their Influence on Technology Use: Evidence from Smallholder Maize and Rice Farmers in Uganda

Abstract

Despite the availability of a number of appropriate agricultural mechanization developed by various players in the sector, their use remains low especially among smallholder farmers. This results into low production, productivity and quality of the produce. This study seeks to show whether the low use of these technologies is explained by farmers’ perceptions on appropriate agricultural mechanization and the factors that influence farmers’ use of the different appropriate agricultural mechanization technologies. Utilizing cross-sectional data from users and non-users of five appropriate agricultural mechanization technologies in the production of maize and rice, an appropriate sample was determined and interviewed. Assessment of farmers’ perceptions on appropriate agricultural mechanization was achieved using factor analysis. Factors influencing farmers’ use of the different appropriate agricultural mechanization technologies were determined using binary probit model on each of the appropriate agricultural mechanization technology. The results show that maize shellers were most used, followed by rice threshers and walking tractors while the least used were motorized tillers and motorized sprayers. The results further show that the farmers find the available appropriate agricultural mechanization technologies beneficial and user-friendly. Factors that influence farmers’ use of appropriate agricultural mechanization technologies show that farmers characteristics such as household size, level of education, location, possession of a communication asset, being married, being female, and land ownership influence farmers’ use of appropriate agricultural mechanization technologies. There is need to increase farmers’ exposure to different appropriate agricultural mechanization. On-site trainings, knowledge sharing and exchange visits should be encouraged. Programs that offer subsidized and free agricultural mechanization should target scattered distribution so as to reach as many farmers as possible as opposed to giving many farmers in a given location.

Keywords: Farmer perceptions, Appropriate Agricultural Mechanization, Technologies, use, Factor Analysis, Binary Probit Model

DOI: 10.7176/DCS/16-1-04

Publication date: February 28^th 2026