Abstract

Agricultural mechanization is widely regarded as a critical pathway for improving smallholder productivity, reducing labour bottlenecks, and enhancing the efficiency of agri-food systems in the Global South. Recent reviews show that mechanization can support sustainable transformation, but its uptake remains highly uneven because adoption is shaped by farm size, purchasing power, service markets, and institutional access rather than machinery availability alone. In Kenya, rice is a strategic food and commercial crop, yet mechanization among smallholder rice farmers remains partial across key operations such as land preparation, irrigation, and harvesting. This study examined factors influencing the adoption of mechanization among smallholder rice producers in Mwea Irrigation Scheme, Kenya. Using cross-sectional survey data from 384 households, the study employed descriptive statistics and a multivariate probit model to analyze three interrelated adoption decisions: tractor use, mechanized irrigation, and mechanized harvesting. Results showed that mechanization choices were positively correlated, confirming complementarity across technologies. Gender significantly influenced tractor use and mechanized harvesting, while education positively affected tractor uses and mechanized irrigation. Household income and access to credit increased the likelihood of adopting tractor use and mechanized irrigation. Group membership was important for mechanized irrigation, whereas rice farming experience and land size significantly influenced mechanized harvesting. The findings indicate that mechanization adoption in smallholder rice systems is simultaneously shaped by socio-economic characteristics, institutional support, and farm structure. The study concludes that inclusive mechanization policy in Kenya should strengthen extension, credit access, service markets, farmer organizations, and gender-responsive support if mechanization is to contribute meaningfully to rice sector transformation. Empirical data and model results are drawn from the attached study results.

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