Rural mechanization for equitable development: Disarray, disjuncture, and disruption

Motivation Agricultural mechanization was once a mainstream issue. From the 1990s onwards it received less priority, as public policy concern for equitable economic development in rural areas faded. Despite recent signs of renewed interest, questions require more systematic attention. After long period neglect, our knowledge is disarray. Purpose This paper traces evolution thinking about mechanization. It examines how three increasingly important factors affect or potentially mechanization: (a) expansion capital goods markets, (b) evolving urban-rural linkages, (c) climate crisis. Methods and approach The reviews literature that documents longstanding debates, which records changes global south 2010s. Findings Public often seen 1960s central to development. When neo-liberal economics rose 1980s, thought issues could be left suppliers customers market. In meantime, especially Asia, many operations have been mechanized, but these attracted relatively little attention from either researchers policy-makers. 2010s, pattern has influenced by production machinery way try sway policy-makers towards favouring their products; relations between urban areas, including emergence labour shortage availability remittances investment; challenges posed farmers heating Each trends disruptive, risking disjuncture understandings changing realities ‘real world’ livelihoods wider political economy on one hand, need ensure relevance research agendas priorities other. Policy implications makers embrace holistic view based evidence multi-disciplinary research. needs rebalancing enable integrated national economies; greater recognition smaller small medium entrepreneurs; improved data collection, experimenting with public-private partnerships collection.