SURVEY STUDY OF FARM TRACTOR MANAGEMENT: A CASE STUDY OF ZAMFARA STATE

Abstract

Maintenance is a key element in the management of any machinery firm. This study addresses the problem of Farm Tractors maintenance in Zamfara State. A survey was carried out to determine the level of agricultural machinery management. Information used was obtained from the State Ministry of Agriculture, State Tractor Hiring and Sales Agency (ZSTHSA), and through personal visits to the 14 Local Government Areas of the State. Data were also obtained from answers to a structured questionnaire, personal contact and oral interviews with the management staff, technical staff, tractor operators and some randomly selected farmers within the State. The obtained data was analyzed using relevant statistical tools. Simple descriptive statistical tools such as averages, percentages were used. The result revealed that the State owned 77 functional farm tractors (60.2% of the total owned farm tractors). Spare parts are not available, owned tractors do not reach their economic life, there is no single fully equipped tractor maintenance workshop in the State, maintenance records are not kept, there is lack of technical knowledge of operating and maintaining tractors, and frequent changes of the managerial staff due to some political reasons and non-adherence to the established government policies. Finally, recommendations were giving that will help improve the machinery maintenance.