The level of mechanization in general and motorization of tillage more specifically is low in West Africa. The average area of cultivated land per tractor is about 4,500 ha for West Africa, as compared with about 1,000 for Sub-Saharan Africa and 278 and 116 for ‘Green Revolution’ nations of India and China, respectively (Mrema, 1996). It remains a fact that only one quarter of the land area of Africa capable of sustained production of rain fed crops is being used at this time (Kaul, 1991). The low level of mechanization could be seen as a major constraint to agricultural growth on the one hand. On the other hand, taking into account the misuse of motorized inputs for soil tillage and the inherent hazards, it limits the damage done to natural resources.

The overall prevalent form of motorization is the standard agricultural tractor with the disc plough for primary tillage in irrigated rice, closely followed by the disc harrow, which is also used for upland cultivation. Power tillers are used to a lesser extend and mostly in wetland rice.

Although some respondents reported the use of specific implements for specific soil types, no distinct mechanization patterns for the various agro-ecological zones within West Africa could be distinguished from the results of the questionnaire. This may indicate that the types and means of mechanization are imported and used without regard to local circumstances and the appropriateness of the equipment. In spontaneous, small scale mechanization, but moreover in large scale government or donor led mechanization, literature reports numerous examples of importing machinery that was not adapted to fit local circumstances. In too many cases it has been the donor that determined what equipment was donated (i.e. products from the donor country) rather than having made funds available to purchase the make and type of equipment that would match local circumstances best. More insight in the mechanization patterns that prevail in the various agro-ecological zones of West Africa is needed to find the link between forms of mechanization and the climatic and agricultural circumstances. Systems of reduced tillage such as minimum-tillage, zero-tillage or conservation tillage do not necessarily exclude the use of tractors and should in any case be considered as they may be used to reverse the process of accelerated erosion.

In most cases no secondary tillage is done after primary tillage. Especially where soils are light and sandy only one tillage operation is applied to prepare the seedbed. Weeding is hardly ever done with a tractor or power tiller. The most mechanized crop overall is rice, both in dryland and wetland production. The least mechanized are the staple crops, mostly in upland production.

With the knowledge that practically all operations in the cropping cycle could be mechanized, one could state that the capital intensive, motorized equipment is heavily under-utilized and therefore has a high capital cost per hour of work. In West African practice primary tillage is the only operation in the cropping cycle that is mechanized. Land preparation has the highest labour peak and pressure to get the sowing done in the first weeks of the growing season after the first rains, is very high. After primary tillage the labour shortage seems to be less stringent and farmers hardly ever extend the equipment package of a tractor to include planting and weeding. Next to the fact that farmers do not feel the need to mechanize these activities because of having enough labour available for it, there is also the investment needed for yet another set of implements. Moreover, for weeding to be mechanized, planting has to be done in rows, most likely using a tractor drawn seeder. All in all this represents a considerable change in the farming system.

The main advantage of motorization as seen by the respondents is the work potential/increased productivity aspect. Increased productivity stems from both an increase in acreage and increased yields. Most respondents find that mechanization is indispensable for increased productivity, increased production and for meeting the fast growing demands for food. The risks and disadvantages, however, are well recognized by both the specialists working in the field and by the farmers. The degradation of soil resources is seen as the most perilous risk of motorized tillage. In methods currently practised, motorization damages the natural resources to the extent that there are irreversible environmental effects and, eventually, a negative impact on food production, food security and food self-sufficiency. In general, the status of mechanization is very poor. Farmers and drivers have received little or no training, resulting in malpractice that further increases soil erosion and brake down rates of the machinery. A lack of trained mechanics and spare parts or the purchasing power of farmers to obtain these, further adds to the underutilization of the equipment. Additionally, motorization is often inadequate for the West African farming systems of many smallholder farms with scattered fields, bad access roads and not fully cleared fields.

The problems stated above stress the need for a careful and well-considered guidance of the mechanization process in West Africa. Mechanization has received less attention than it deserves on basis of the consequences it has. There is a lack of statistics and information on mechanization issues due to many years of neglect, and research on the subject has been minimal. As opposed to animal traction and soil and water conservation, which receive considerable attention, motorization is not being studied at this time in West Africa. Additionally, extension services and research institutions are often understaffed and in need of capacity building. Most extension workers have had little or no training to deal with motorization issues. The underlying problem may be the lack of long-term national policies and strategies on agricultural mechanization in many countries. This has resulted in a discontinuous mechanization climate, dependent on the whims and fashions that have reigned the donor organisations and local governments over the past decades. Generally, research institutions, extension systems and government bodies should be strengthened and include mechanization issues in their mandate. Currently, several West African governments have elaborated mechanization strategies in collaboration with FAO, but in many cases implementation of the document is lacking. Even in cases where governments have explicitly shifted from motorization towards the promotion of animal traction in light of the adverse environmental effects, one may find that offers by donors for large scale motorization inputs will not be declined.

There is a lack of exchange of information on mechanization in relation to soil conservation issues both between and within countries. Networks that were in existence before (Kaul, 1991) are hardly functioning now, due to financial constraints, lack of commitment, changing fashions in the international donor systems, etc. The same goes for attempts to improve communication through newsletters, directories, etc. There is a need to put in place a platform that co-ordinates all activities in the domain of mechanization issues in West Africa. It should also serve as an information exchange. All stake holders that have a role to play in mechanization as well as in soil and water conservation should be represented in this platform; governments, commercial sector, national and international research institutions, NGO’s and donor institutions.

Gender issues were not dealt with in the questionnaire but certainly should be considered. The most important issue is that women hardly ever have access to mechanized inputs on the farm. Even in cases where mechanization increases their workload considerably they have no say in how mechanical inputs are managed and used. If, for instance, a farmer increases his acreage when using a tractor for land preparation but not for weeding, the workload for weeding, which is a women’s task in most communities, will increase tremendously. Some other tasks traditionally done by women may be taken over by men when these tasks are mechanized. This could mean an alleviation of the workload but also a loss of income. In general, mechanization has an effect on the roles and task patterns of men and women on the farm. Gender issues therefore have to be taken into account when discussing mechanization issues, and formulating new policies.