Abstract
This study was motivated by the critical role of well-managed tractor hire services in advancing food self-sufficiency and nutrition. The primary goal was to identify the factors hindering the efficient opera tion and success of the County-operated Agricultural Mechanization Service (AMS) in Kenya, specifically in serving small-scale farmers.
A conditional survey technique using mixed question types was employed to collect data from 37 of Ken ya's 47 counties. The data was subsequently analyzed using descriptive statistics.
The analysis highlighted several significant challenges for establishing a functional Tractor Hire Service. About 55% of the workforce was heavily skewed toward plant operators and 59% of AMSs lacked a dedi cated service shop. Over 40% of AMSs park equipment during off-season periods. Breakdowns consumed 25% of the operational time. The supply procedure delays accounted for 18%, and late fuel deliveries accounted for 16% of the time. County administration interference was cited by 20% of respondents. Stiff competition from private tractor hire schemes stood at 6%, with expectations to rise. The major services provided were ploughing, harrowing, and transportation, yet the lack of post-harvest handling services is significant, as this area is responsible for over 30% of food losses.
Based on these findings, the paper strongly recommended several actions to improve AMS functionality and success: Prioritize employing relevant qualified staff and conducting routine on-the-job training, install modern technology, including GPS for acreage estimation, tractor trackers for real-time location, mileage, ploughed area, and fuel consumption monitoring, Acquire tractor models with reliable back-up/ after-sales service available locally, Establish an operational service shop, Run the service professionally as a business, Match machine units to the projected workload to optimize labor efficiency. (Note: Visual evidence of the fleets, Plates 1-28 and Table 1, was included in the original study.)
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