Economics of Tractorization for Tillage Operations in Agricultural Productions: Case Study of Kwara, Oyo, Kogi, and Niger States.

Abstract

A field survey was conducted to determine the appropriateness of the existing tractors in agricultural production in Nigeria in the following locations: Kwara, Oyo, Kogi and Niger states. Results indicate that the average size of the tractors in use is74.44 hp (55.5 kW) on an average of 156 ha of arable crops per annum with an average of 0.67 hp/ha (0.5 kW/ha) as power input per hectare. Results also revealed that no small sized tractors are currently in use, an indication that the tractors of 45 hp (33.5 kW) and less are fast disappearing from Nigeria agricultural productions. Contrary to expectations, heavy tractors of more than 86 hp (63.3 kW) are gradually becoming popular. The result also indicates that the tractors were used for average of 523.51 hours annually. The results indicated that the tractors have low annual usage, with high overhead costs. Study also showed that only tillage and haulage operations are tractorized.