Land suitability analysis for farm mechanization using GIS-based analytical hierarchy process and multicriteria decision-making method in Ethiopia

Farm mechanization plays a crucial part in improving productivity, reducing poverty, and optimizing resources. Farming in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia, is the least mechanized, less than one percent of agricultural land plowed with a tractor. This is mostly due to lack of adequate scientific and technical research in the area of mechanization, including studies in land suitability and selecting appropriate agricultural machinery. This study aimed to categorize and map farmlands suitable for farm mechanization. In this study, GIS integrated with analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and multicriteria decision-making method was used. Seven different factors, slope, soil texture, depth, drainage, road access, rainfall, and land use, were analyzed using a GIS-based weighted-overlay analysis. The results exhibited a large proportion (88.1%) of the zone, which is 844,689 ha, was found to be in different suitability range for farm mechanization, with 541,279 ha (56.4%) and 219,285 ha (22.9%) being highly, moderately, and marginally suitable, respectively. Approximately 470 ha (0.05%) unsuitable and the remaining (11.9%) or 113,898 ha is restricted for and settlement area. This study highlights the potential for expanding farm mechanization in the zone and the effect of terrain and soil physical factors on land suitability for farm mechanization.