Investing in Agricultural Mechanization: A Means to Realize Crop Production Targets for the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) of Ethiopia

Abstract

Ethiopian economy is dominated by the agriculture sector and its contribution is vital to the national growth domestic product (GDP). Accordingly, crop
production, will remain the major source of growth in the growth and transformation plan (GTP) of Ethiopia. Increasing the productivity of the smallholder farmers through scaling up of best practices, expansion of irrigation, natural resource conservation, production of high value crops and  encouraging the private sector are among the strategic approaches in the GTP of the country. In realizing this, improved agricultural mechanization  technologies must be taken as one of the critical factors as they enhance production and productivity through timeliness, better quality of operations and  precision in application of biological and chemical inputs. Furthermore, they can contribute to adaptation to climate variability and change and  addressing social issues of gender and youth. Therefore, this paper discuses the need for investing in agricultural mechanization sector through  formulating clear strategies that encourage the whole value chain and developing the capacity of stakeholders that guarantee the availability and sustained use of the technologies to meet the envisaged targets.