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Abstract

This is a collaborative research project involving four companies and a university, both in the UK and Zambia. The project will focus on improving the sustainable intensification of agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa by evaluating the benefits and commercial potential of agricultural mechanisation and support services required for smallholders in Zambia. The project has two objectives: (a) to assess the affordability of mechanisation systems along with conservation agriculture for smallholders in Zambia, (b) to develop and evaluate economically a novel approach of farm service centre (agrodealer) for supporting and training smallholders. These two objectives will contribute to the overall goal of making recommendations and developing a model for sustainable agricultural intensification and affordable financing of well-suited mechanisation.

Description

Mechanisation of Smallholders in Sub-Saharan Africa by Agrodealer Development
Agri-tech Catalyst Round 6 late stage project (Sep 2017 – Aug 2019)
Objectives:
To assess the affordability of mechanisation systems along with conservation agriculture for smallholders in Zambia
To develop and evaluate economically a novel approach of farm service centre (agrodealer) for supporting and training smallholders
Agrifood challenges:
The main challenges hampering agricultural mechanisation: affordability, availability, lack of farmer skills and constraints within the private sector 
Sustainable intensification of agriculture concentrating on mechanised conservation farming and to enhance smallholders’ productivity and income
The vicious circle of low income, low demand, high cost, lack of financing
Poorly supported machinery
Low capacity and lack of support for mechanisation contractors (agrodealers) to succeed
Climate change mitigation impact:
Mechanised conservation farming (strip tillage, i.e. ripping) has demonstrated to provide rain-fed crops with resilience to extreme environmental shocks caused by climate change and pervasive water scarcity.
Current indicative yields show a significant yield improvement of mechanised ripping for maize establishment versus ox driven techniques of over 5 t/ha
Benefits: improved water infiltration, reduced soil erosion, timely land preparation and planting, vigorous root development, crop more resilient to drought.