Multi-Criteria Assessment of Tractor Mechanisation Service Business Models for Smallholder Agriculture in Nigeria

This study applies multi-criteria decision analysis to evaluate alternative tractor mechanisation service business models for smallholder agriculture in Nigeria, identifying the model configurations most likely to achieve financial sustainability and broad farmer access. Multiple mechanisation service models coexist in Nigeria including government hire schemes, private tractor owner services, cooperative tractor pools, implement dealer rental, and emerging digital aggregator platforms. Each model has different performance characteristics across financial viability, farmer access equity, service quality, and institutional sustainability dimensions. This study uses a structured MCDA framework with criteria and weights determined through expert consultation with 35 mechanisation specialists, development economists, and farmer organisation leaders. Alternative business models are scored on each criterion using empirical performance data from a survey of 120 service operators and 300 farmer clients across all geopolitical zones. Sensitivity analysis tests the stability of model rankings under different criterion weight scenarios. Findings reveal that digital aggregator platforms combining GPS-tracked tractor fleets, mobile booking, and usage-based pricing achieve the highest overall MCDA score under both farmer access and financial sustainability criteria simultaneously. Private owner models show high financial sustainability but low equity access. Government schemes score lowest on financial sustainability. The study contributes an original MCDA framework for Nigerian mechanisation business model comparison and recommends investment in digital aggregator platform development as a scalable model for improving smallholder mechanisation access.

Keywords: tractor mechanisation, business models, multi-criteria analysis, smallholder farming, Nigeria.