Analysing Failure of the Government-backed Free Tractor Distribution to Farmers in the Five Agro Ecological Zones in Cameroon: the Case of SONALIKA Tractors

The study aimed at evaluating the main causes of the failure of an agricultural mechanization program in Cameroon despite attempts by the government to improve on the sector with the introduction over 1000 free SONALIKA tractors to farmers in five Agro-ecological zones of Cameroon. Specifically, it was to identify and prioritize the primary causes of breakdowns and propose sustainable management plan. Questionnaires were administered to respondents (tractor operators and mechanics) and data collected was analyzed using SPSS and Microsoft excel. Interviews were carried out to get root causes of breakdown then prioritized using Pareto chart. Organization of root causes was done using ISHIKAWA diagram and a Gantt chart used to make a preventive maintenance plan. Results show five primary causes (Material, Machine, Manpower, Method and Environment) of operational weaknesses of SONALIKA tractors and after prioritizing, three vital few causes were identified; (Manpower, Machine and Environment) that if solved, 90% of the effects will be avoided. Data for external causes showed that the decision to provide tractors and implements was 48% by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 30% based on availability. About 54% of operators had access to operator's manual but only 18% used it. Twenty-three percent (23%) of tractor mechanics were available to all tractor operators with most of them being less proficient. There was low affordability (30%) of spare parts in all the zones. Internal causes showed that tractor breakdown was mostly due to broken parts (75%).