Factors of production

Labor

Labor as a factor of production has a huge effect on sustainable mechanization. Farm labor may include farm managers, equipment operators, handymen, agronomists, and the owner, or contractor.

To be in possession of useful skills, (both hard and soft) and knowledge is paramount for farm labor.

The Operator

A machine operator should understand how to drive the machine at optimally high fuel-efficiencies and while delivering outputs on time for example.

An operator should not only be skillful at operating the machine but also understand the fundamental construction and technological features of the machine. A machine operator should understand how to drive the machine at optimally high fuel-efficiencies while delivering outputs on time for example. They should be able to carry out timely maintenance of the machine according to the maintenance schedules. Being able to identify worn-out parts and placing orders for spare replacement is critical. Reading and understanding the operator’s manual is a gateway to most of this knowledge. An operator contributes immensely to the service life of an equipment/machine.

The Farm Manager

A farm manager needs to be cognizant of the effect of downtime on production timelines and how it impacts the profitability of the farm. They should be at the center of the production activities on the farm.

They should be good at communicating the deliverable s and expectations to the rest of the team including the agronomists for instance. A farm manager is the driver of the investor’s vision and agenda. He actualizes it.

#SustainableAgriculturalMechanization A. Luyali