000			03513nab|a22004097a|4500
001			69827
003			MX-TxCIM
005			20260123095725.0
008			260122s2026||||xxk|||p|op||||00||0|eng|d
024	8		_ahttps://doi.org/10.31220/agriRxiv.2026.00394
040			_aMX-TxCIM
041			_aeng
100	1		_aPatiño-Espejel, J.E. _932383
245	1	0	_aFrom hand tools to mechanization : _bcharacterizing gaps and opportunities for maize, bean, and coffee smallholders in Honduras
260			_aWallingford (United Kingdom) : _bCABI, _c2026.
500			_aOpen Access
500			_aPreprint
520			_aThis study characterized agricultural mechanization and identified the main challenges and opportunities for maize, bean and coffee production systems across five departments in Honduras: Lempira, Copán, Intibucá, Olancho and El Paraíso. A total of 112 surveys were conducted, and four focus groups were held among farmers. The surveys gathered information on production systems and types of tools used, while focus groups explored perceptions of farmers about the challenges and mechanization needs. The farmers surveyed grow maize (95.5%), bean (92.9%), and coffee (38.4%), on areas smaller than 1 ha for maize and bean (73%) and from 1 to 5 ha for coffee (51.2%), located on hillsides, plains, and mixed terrain. The use of motorized tools varied greatly between sites and crops (0-65.1%), while the use of hand tools was reported by almost all respondents (90.7 95.2%). Overall, the tools present in all sites and crops were found to be manual, such as machetes (almost 100%) and hoes (50-100%), planting sticks for corn and bean (65%), and post hole diggers for coffee (81.4%). Lowest levels of mechanization occurred in harvesting and post-harvesting, although some machinery for post-harvest coffee processing was present. In western departments, maize shelling and bean threshing are mainly performed manually (up to 90.9%), while in eastern departments a higher usage of mechanical threshers/shellers was observed (up to 85%). The major challenges for production systems reported are the labor shortage, high equipment costs, lack of financing mechanisms, and the need for mechanization solutions adapted to local conditions. The findings suggest that an efficient transformation of production systems in these regions demands scale-appropriate mechanized solutions, paired with strategies that enable a transition from entirely manual tools to small equipment that reduces physical effort of farmers.
546			_aText in English
597			_bExcellence in Agronomy _dCGIAR Trust Fund _dBill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) _fSustainable Farming _uhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/180544
650		7	_aMechanization _2AGROVOC _95007
650		7	_aSmallholders _2AGROVOC _91763
650		7	_aGender _2AGROVOC _91123
650		7	_aInclusion _2AGROVOC _911278
651		7	_aHonduras _2AGROVOC _95249
700	1		_aCabrera Meraz, J. _941134
700	1		_aVásquez, E. _941135
700	1		_aLopez Gomez, J.A. _98387
700	1		_aLeal Gonzalez, A.J. _926983
700	1		_aMcLean Rodrígez, F.D. _98518
700	1		_aSanders, A. _920289
700	1		_8001710897 _aOdjo, S. _gSustainable Agrifood Systems _914751
700	1		_aVan Loon, J. _gSustainable Agrifood Systems _8I1705924 _92765
773	0		_gPreprint _dWallingford (United Kingdom) : CABI, 2026. _tAgriRxiv
856	4		_yOpen Access through DSpace _uhttps://hdl.handle.net/10883/36815
942			_cJA _n0 _2ddc
999			_c69827 _d69819