The Impact of Cultural Factors on the Sustainability of Agricultural Mechanization in Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract— Agricultural machines and equipment have become the most effective instruments used extensively to boost agricultural production. Astronomical population increase in the country without corresponding increase in food production has led to massive importation of agricultural machineries by the Federal and State governments with the aim to mechanize agricultural practices and boost agricultural production. However, agricultural machinery whether they are power units, field implements, processing equipment or pumps cannot perform their duties indefinitely. Like any other machines, they break down from time to time. The high frequency of tractor breakdown are caused by environmental factors, unskilled operators, poor repair and maintenance culture, age of the machines and high cost of spare parts. Various researchers had noted that proliferation of tractor in the country makes widespread and high incidence of un-serviceability of farm tractors, gross underutilization of farm tractors, and frequent breakdown of tractors amongst other problems which is the hallmark of tractor hiring services in Nigeria. The study shows that poor maintenance culture of these agricultural machines and implements results to their unavailability for the works they are meant for, which affects timeliness of agricultural operations and mechanization programmes of the sector. It is recommended that preventive repair and maintenance should be adopted to make the machines and implements always available and prolong their useful life. The work aims to study the effect of poor culture of repair and maintenance of agricultural machines and equipment on mechanization of agriculture in Anambra State if Nigeria.