CHAPTER ONE

1.0   INTRODUCTION:

1.1   BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Advances in science and technology affect the agricultural sector as well. Historically, many new technologies and applications have been observed in agriculture. One of them is the agricultural mechanization which is considered as one of the 20 greatest engineering achievements in the 20th century (NAE, 2018).

Agricultural mechanization offers many benefits including timely application of the agricultural tasks, higher productivity, increased yield, higher quality products, new related subsidiary industries, etc. It has also some negative impacts such as increased fossil fuel consumption, air pollution from exhaust gases, higher rural unemployment rates and most importantly occupational safety concerns due to unsafe design and usage.

Agricultural mechanization often has been an integral part of agricultural transformation around the world, playing an important role in keeping farm production costs low by supplying the cheap farm power required along production processes. The growth of agricultural mechanization in Africa South of Sahara (SSA) has been lagging behind other regions of the world.

There is a broad consensus within the agricultural mechanization literature that historically adoption of agricultural mechanization has been largely driven by demand for more frequent cultivation, area expansion, and to save labor (Pingali 2007; Herdt 1983).

Despite its indivisibility and dependence on the availability of spare parts and repair services, in most areas of the world the supply of tractors and tractor services has emerged over time, primarily led by the private sector with relatively little government interventions.

While formal credit programs did not always remove their liquidity constraints, individuals were able to accumulate sufficient wealth over time to manage the fixed costs necessary to acquire tractors. Adaptive design innovations to improve the performances of tractors have mostly been provided by the private sector as well.

These experiences in the United States (Manuelli and Seshadri 2014), Asia, and other regions have led to the broad belief that agricultural mechanization will increase once demand grows, with few supply-side constraints.

ILO (2000) reports that the fatal accident rate in farming is double the average for all other industries in several countries. Risk factors affecting the farm workers include machinery, hazardous chemicals (pesticides, fertilizers, etc.), toxic, allergenic and carcinogenic substances, transmissible animal diseases, confined spaces (silos, tanks, etc.), noise, vibration, ergonomic hazards (unnatural body positions, repetitive work, etc.), extreme temperatures and contact with wild and poisonous animals (ILO, 2000). Among these, farm machinery including tractors and harvesters results in highest frequency and fatality rates of injury (ILO, 2000). In this study the researcher is more focused on mechanized farm accidents; hence the study.

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS

        Farming is one of the most dangerous occupations in Nigeria and involves exposure to a variety of hazards including unguarded machinery, animals, noise, dusts and airborne toxins, compressed air, and temperature extremes which later result to farm accident. These might also be a problem as far as this topic is concern; environmental factor exceeding the capability of the equipment, improper operation of equipment and human factors; although environmental factors such as topography, vegetation, shape and size of farms, rainfall, wildfire etc cannot be controlled by man but they cause accidents in the farm as well. Finally, several research has been carried out on the data analysis of farm accident through agricultural mechanization but not even a single research has been carried out on the survey on mechanized farm accidents in south west Nigeria.

1.3   AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

        The main aim of the study is to carry out a survey mechanized farm accidents. Other specific objectives of the study include;

1. to determine the causative factors of mechanized farm accidents in South West Nigeria.
2. to determine the extent to which farm mechanization facilitates accident in South West Nigeria.
3. to determine the effect of mechanized farm accidents among south west Nigeria.
4. to proffer possible solutions to the problems.

1.4   RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What are the causative factors of mechanized farm accidents in South West Nigeria?
2. What is the extent to which farm mechanization facilitates accident in South West Nigeria?
3. What is the effect of mechanized farm accidents among south west Nigeria?
4. What are the possible solutions to the problems?

1.5   STATEMENT OF RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

HO:   mechanized farm accident in high in south west Nigeria.

HI: mechanized farm accident in low in south west Nigeria.

1.6   SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

        The study will be of immense benefit to the entire south west Nigeria in the sense that it will enable the government to organise intensive training for the operators of the farm machineries and more also, provision should also be made for first aid treatment in case of any necessity in the farm. Finally, the study will contribute to the body of existing literature and knowledge and knowledge to this field of study and basis for further research.

1.7   SCOPE OF THE STUDY

        The study on the survey of mechanized farm accidents is limited to south west Nigeria.

1.8   LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.9   DEFINITION OF TERMS

Survey     Look closely at or examine (someone or something).

Mechanized    Introduce machines or automatic devices into (a process or place).

Farm       A farm is an area of land that is devoted primarily to agricultural processes with the primary objective of producing food and other crops; it is the basic facility in food production.

Accident         An unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury.