Little attention is paid to mechanization and tillage on national levels, which represents a problem in all west African countries. The efforts to support farmers with training, to research the effects of motorized tillage, and to put in place units that actively and effectively deal with mechanization issues are there in some cases, but generally have insufficient impact on the field level.

There are, however, some examples of institutional support in the following countries:

• Ghana’s Soil Research Institute has runoff plots in all the agro-ecological zones of the country to compare different tillage practices;
• In Senegal credit is given for purchase of tractors in riziculture;
• In Mali extension centres are being revitalised, and organisations such as Compagnie Malienne de Développement de Textile and Office du Niger have units dealing with mechanization aspects;
• In Togo, the Université du Bénin uses questionnaires to research erosion and soil degradation in animal traction and motorized tillage.

Extensive research in the area of both motorization and mechanization (including animal traction) is non existent in most countries. Cote D’Ivoire reports that there was once research on mechanization issues done on the experimental farm of the ‘Centre Ivoirienne de Mécanisation Agricole’ (CIMA), but due to insufficient funds the program collapsed.

Systems of reduced tillage, such as minimum-tillage, zero-tillage or conservation tillage generally reduce soil and water losses, and decrease erosion and degradation of soil resources. These methods may be used to reverse the process of accelerated erosion. Although research on various tillage systems has been conducted in the region in the past (i.e. Baffoe-Bonnie, 1975), only two respondents report current activities on conservation tillage. Mauritania and Ghana report that trials are ongoing at this time, but only at the experimental level. Togo plans to launch a pilot programme in this area.

Respondents specifically stressed that there is a general neglect of agricultural mechanization issues on a national level, and the results of the questionnaire support these statements. Reliable data on the number of tractors and the area that is mechanized are rarely available, research and extension on mechanization issues is lacking, and there is a need for clear national policies and strategies on agricultural mechanization that need to be implemented. This is of particular concern because, as stated before, mechanized inputs will find their way to African farms with or without the support and intervention of governments and other institutions. Research institutions, extension systems and government bodies should be strengthened and urged to include mechanization issues in their mandate.