Assessment of small scale farmers need and utilization of mechanization implements in western Oromia, Ethiopia

Utilization of appropriate agricultural mechanization is expected to enhance the Ethiopia GTP II program implementation. Therefore, this study was proposed to identify the existing improved farm implements and powered machineries for agricultural operations and to survey small holder farmers need for mechanization implements in western oromia National regional state, Ethiopia. Primary and secondary data were used to obtain the target of the objective of the study. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select ten districts and twenty sample Peasant association (PAs). Survey data was collected from 185 sample respondents through structured questioner. Only descriptive analyses were employed for the study. The result of the study indicated that, out of the 185 household heads, more than 36% of the smallholder farmers owned either one or no oxen. The average size of land holding possessed by sample households was 2 ha (at least more than the national holding level) during the survey was conducted. In addition, only 22% of sampled respondents own one or more non-farm enterprises income. The results of the survey confirm, mostly 43% the respondent’s labor shortage happened during harvesting, while 31% said occurred during threshing time. According to the time series between 1998 and 2008 crop year’s different implements distributed thorough the center were decreased and totally 67%, 55%, and 18% of respondent heard, seen and used(either by hire or own as an asset) either one or more improved implements respectively.