An economic analysis of a mechanized systems approach to cassava production in Sub-Saharan Africa

Monk, Kevin David

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/88085 Copy

Description

Title

An economic analysis of a mechanized systems approach to cassava production in Sub-Saharan Africa

Author(s)

Monk, Kevin David

Issue Date

2015-07-20

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

McNamara, Paul E.

Committee Member(s)

• Goldsmith, Peter D.
• Schnitkey, Gary

Department of Study

Agricultural & Consumer Economics

Discipline

Agricultural & Applied Economics

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• cassava
• mechanization
• Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

The importance of increasing African agriculture productivity is gaining attention as population is expected to grow by 1.3 billion people between now and the year 2050 (Haub & Kaneda, 2013). Adoption of mechanization has long been eyed as an important component that could propel Sub-Saharan Africa to increased levels of productivity. Historically, however, increased adoption of mechanization has failed partially because of a short-term focus (Houmy, Kienzle, & Ashburner, 2012), because of not accounting for non-agriculture uses of machines (Mrema, Baker, & Kahan, 2008; Takesima, Nin-Pratt, & Diao, 2013), because of technology transfer issues (Akinola, 1987), and because there has been a singular focus on substituting mechanized tillage for hand tillage (Mrema, Baker, & Kahan, 2008; Houmy, Clarke, Ashburner, & Kienzle, 2013). The singular focus on tillage to mechanize agriculture without looking at a complete mechanized system approach is part of the reason for previous failures (Houmy, Kienzle, & Ashburner, 2012). A complete mechanized systems approach, including not only tillage, but planting, spraying, weeding, and harvesting, along with how those operations are delivered to the smallholder farmer, needs to be considered to better understand the opportunity for smallholder mechanization in cassava production.

Graduation Semester

2015-8

Type of Resource

text

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/88085

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2015 Kevin Monk

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