This document discusses sustainable agricultural mechanization in Africa. It covers several topics: the increasing population and food demands in Africa; the objectives of identifying suitable conservation agriculture equipment and correctly operating it; categories of conservation agriculture mechanization including hand tools, animal technology, and engine power; and specific tools for land preparation, planting, weed management, and harvesting. Practical exercises are also described for skills related to using various conservation agriculture equipment and tools.

1. Realizing sustainable agricultural mechanisation
African Conservation Tillage Network
By: Peter Kuria
Namibia Conservation Agriculture Training Manuals Pretesting Workshop
23rd -27th October 2017
Conservation Agriculture
EQUIPMENT

2. Realizing sustainable agricultural mechanisation
1.Objectives
2.Categories and options of CA Manual systems
3.Land preparation Tools
4.Panting Tools
5.Weeding Tools
6.Spraying equipment
7.Practical Exercises
Contents

3. Realizing sustainable agricultural mechanisation
Food Security more urgent in Africa in
coming years
1.Global pop. to increase by 33% to 9 billion by 2050
2.Africa’s to increase by 115%; by 21% in Asia
3.60% more food worldwide; 100% in Africa
4.Worldwide hunger decreased by 132 million in last 20 years; it
increased by 64 million in Africa.
5.Threatening climate change challenges
6.Farming related land resource degradation

4. Realizing sustainable agricultural mechanisation
1.Identify most suitable CA mechanization applicable in their region
based on available farm power and access.
2.Describe the benefits of using CA equipment of different categories as
opposed to conventional agriculture equipment.
3.Correctly operate and calibrate CA equipment.
4.Identify suitable tools and equipment for various farm operations in CA
systems.
5.Establish on-farm learning demonstrations to validate and compare
identified CA tools and equipment.
Objectives

5. Realizing sustainable agricultural mechanisation
1. Hand tools and equipment
2. Draught animal technology
3. Engine-power technology
4. Harnessing draft animals.
5. Machinery options for different farm operations in CA systems:
6. Land or field preparation
7. Seeding or Planting
8. Weed Cover crops and residues management
9. Harvesting.
Categories of CA mechanization:

6. Realizing sustainable agricultural mechanisation
Tool Uses
Hand ripper Most use in Laikipia Kenya for hand
ripping by smallholders
Hand Hoe Making basins and shallow weeding
Chaka Hoe Making basins and zai pits
Land preparation Tools

7. Realizing sustainable agricultural mechanisation
ACT 2014
The H
makin g
Hand Rippers
LandpreparationTools

8. Realizing sustainable agricultural mechanisation
Practicals on planting
basins, operations of Jab
planters, Calibration of
planters

9. Realizing sustainable agricultural mechanisation
Tool Uses
Dibble stick Hardwoods stick with sharpened point used to create holes to plant the
seed in an un-ploughed field with stubble/crop residue
Dibbler/Hand planter Singulate seeds in various soil
textures, moisture, and tillage systems
Jab Planter Hand/manually operated direct planting implement with ability to sow
both seeds and fertiliser simultaneously. It is able to penetrate surface
mulch and depositing seed and fertiliser at the required depth
Li-planter Similar to jab planter in use, but hoeing acting in operation.
Push-pull planter – Ndume Operate like animal drawn planter, but it is pulled manually for it to
plant.
Planting Tools

10. Realizing sustainable agricultural mechanisation
Planting Tools
Dibble
stick
Jab planter

11. Realizing sustainable agricultural mechanisation
Dibble Stick Planting Jab Planter
Li-Planter
Practicals on planting basins, operations of Jab planters, Calibration of
planters
Ndume Push-Pull planterAssorted Jab planters
Planting Tools

12. Realizing sustainable agricultural mechanisation01/12/2017

13. Realizing sustainable agricultural mechanisation
Tool Uses
Shallow weeder; Hand hoe
Hand push weeder
Use for superficial weeding or
cultivation to scrap off weeds and
leave the soil surface and residue
intact. Operated by hand
Slasher, Machette, Billhook Use to remove any weed, residue and
cover crop during pre-planting
operation.
Mechanical weed management tools
and equipment

14. Realizing sustainable agricultural mechanisation
Mechanical weed management
equipment options
Hand operated weeders
Practicals on use, handling and maintenance

15. Realizing sustainable agricultural mechanisation

16. Realizing sustainable agricultural mechanisation
Knapsack sprayer
Zam wipe
Pedestal sprayer
Mechanical weed management
tools and equipment
Practicals on use, Calibration, safety precautions of weed control
equipment

17. Realizing sustainable agricultural mechanisation

18. Realizing sustainable agricultural mechanisation
THANK YOU

19. Realizing sustainable agricultural mechanisation
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