The
Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) identified
promotion of agricultural mechanization as a strategic intervention area
towards improving productivity and profitability of strategic commodity value
chains.
In order to ensure effective and sustainable utilization of the tractors and
implements to farming communities across the country, there is need for
operational guidelines. Accordingly, operational
guidelines for equitable access and effective management of tractors provided
by the Government have been developed.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
1. Commodity Value Chain Approach
2. Ownership and Stewardship
3. Demand Driven
4. Beneficiary Co-investment
5. Equity and social inclusion
6. Capacity Building
SUMMARY OF
BENEFICIARY SELECTION CRITERIA
• Existing and active Farmer Organizations (FOs)
• Farmer groups (associations or cooperatives)
whose registration is at least up to district level
• Total combined acreage available for production
by the benefiting farmer organization should not be less than 50 acres
• Proof/evidence that the group has been in
operations and guided by the laws that govern the operations of such
associations/groups (e.g cooperative society bye-laws
• The Farmer Organization/ group should have a
minimum of 20 members
• A truck record of proper leadership structure and
management of group assets and finances
• The group should avail a competitive bankable
business/tractor hire service plan
• Commitment to use only qualified, certified and
licensed tractor operators/technicians.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF TRACTORS AND
IMPLEMENTS
– The beneficiaries will be fully responsible for the
operations, maintenance and repairs (both minor and major) of the tractor and
implements.
The tractor
management committee shall come up with terms of reference for deployment and
payment for the services
– The beneficiary, acting through a tractor management
committee, shall be responsible for the safe keeping the tractor and its
implements
-The tractor operator should carryout daily routine checks, inspection and cleaning of the whole tractor and its implements and inform the tractor management committee on the need for routine fuelling, oils, and repairs where necessary
– Routine maintenance and service should be done as per
the manufacturer`s recommended schedule and manuals
-All forms
of service and repairs shall be carried out by qualified and approved personnel
or agents/dealers, replacement of parts should be acquired from authorized
dealers
-For the
period under warrantee, the supplies or agents of suppliers of tractors will
carry out the routine tractor service depending on the terms of the contract
for the particular supply lot (s)
– The equipment supplier/dealer will provide after
sales networks to support all supplied equipment in a timely, efficient and
cost-effective manner.
Credit: Office of Agriculture Minister
Government should as well introduce Agricultural loans targeting individual farmers willing to mechanize farming operations on their own i.e those not in groups. Beyond cultivation, a tractor on the farm has numerous other uses. It would therefore be very ideal for every farmer to own his personal machine