Crop Researchers have concluded that the adoption of mechanised equipment in plantain cultivation could significantly increase yields while reducing labour requirements on farms. Ms Pauline Pugeaux, an Agronomist at the Agricultural Research Center for International Development (CIRAD), observed that there was a substantial potential for mechanisation in plantain production which reduces physical labour on the field.
Presenting her observations at a closing workshop on mechanisation for plantain production for stakeholders at Fumesua near Kumasi, she said unlike cereals and grains fields, it was not adaptive to get large fields of plantain but small mechanisation that was resilient could help farmers to increase productivity.
The workshop was to present findings on the two-year “Mechanisation and Work in Agroecological Transitions (MecaWAT – 2023 – 2025) Project. The MecaWAT is aimed at contributing to the development of agro-ecological farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa, through mechanisation of crop production operations, combining higher labour productivity with reduced drudgery and work organisation favorable to farmers.
Ms Pugeaux explained that the project has shown that mechanising plantain production can benefit women and youth, adding that it was important to combine research and practical work with mechanisation while addressing any negative impacts it may have on farm work.
The studies, she indicated, uncovered that the use of mechanized tools on plantain farms in Ghana, Benin and Cote d’Ivoire was very low and most equipment needed modification to fit the purposes of mechanization in plantain fields.
Dr Natson Eyram Amengor, a Senior Research Scientist at the CSIR-CRI and Lead for MecaWAT Project, mentioned that during the studies researchers looked at two equipment, hole digging (auger machine) and handheld motorised weeder for clearing weeds, which would prevent the overreliance on weedicides.
According to him, the farmers were impressed with this equipment and wanted to own it. What is left is proper training on acquisition, repairs, and maintenance of the machine, he added.
Source: GNA