Smallholder farmers get support to adopt modern mechanization

By Our Reporter

AGRICULTURAL mechanization has the potential to transform Tanzania's agricultural sector, driving increased productivity, reducing labor intensity, and fostering economic growth.

Despite its benefits, mechanization remains underdeveloped and inequitably adopted. Increasing agricultural operating income is not only an important step in improving agricultural work for farmers in the new era, but is also a powerful way to promote rural revitalization.

According to reports, for every 1 percent increase in the level of mechanization, the yields of all crops, grain crops, and cash crops increase by 1.2151, 1.5941, and 0.4351 percent, respectively.

For that reason, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) under the Youth Entrepreneurship for Food and Agriculture (YEFFA) in partnership with Sahara Accelerator has sought to launch the Kilimotech Accelerator.

The idea is to provide innovative solutions to help in the adoption of mechanization, especially among smallholder farmers in various regions of Tanzania.

The focus is on scaling agricultural innovations that help smallholder farmers towards increased incomes, better livelihoods, and improved food security.

“African farmers need uniquely African solutions to the environmental and agricultural challenges they face, enabling them to sustainably boost production and gain access to rapidly growing agricultural markets. In short, AGRA’s mission is to transform the lives of smallholder farmers from that of a solitary struggle for survival to a business that thrives,” AGRA says.

A report commissioned by AGRA and prepared by Sahara Accelerator states that large-scale farms benefit disproportionately, while smallholder farmers—who represent the majority—face significant barriers.

“These include high machinery costs, limited access to financing, inadequate infrastructure, and fragmented policy frameworks. Smallholder farmers rely on basic mechanization methods, including hand-tool technologies and draft animal power,” the report states.

The report includes findings from stakeholder mapping exercises conducted in Singida, Manyara, Njombe, and Mbeya, focusing on sunflower, maize, horticulture, and rice value chains.

Sahara Accelerator Chief Strategist, Adam Mbyallu, says that the study identifies systemic challenges and highlights opportunities to promote inclusive mechanization.

“Innovations such as digital platforms (e.g., Hello Tractor), pay-as-you-go financing, leasing systems, and local manufacturing initiatives are critical tools for democratizing mechanization and making it more accessible to smallholder farmers,” says Mbyallu.

Drawing from global success stories, including Asia's Green Revolution, this report outlines strategic pathways to promote mechanization adoption in Tanzania.

Mbyallu says that Tanzania can establish a resilient and inclusive mechanization ecosystem by fostering public-private partnerships and integrating sustainable practices.

“The report concludes with targeted recommendations and a strategic roadmap for enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural mechanization,” he adds.

Among the recommendations in the report include developing innovative financing models tailored to the specific needs of agriculture value chain stakeholders. These models should address the unique operational conditions of smallholder farmers, processors, and distributors to facilitate access to modern equipment and tools.

The report also suggests practical training and capacity-building initiatives to enhance financial knowledge, record-keeping practices, and stakeholder awareness. This would enable smallholders and other actors to meet financial institutions' requirements for mechanization loans and capital.

It also calls for the establishment of a coordinated financing framework to connect key stakeholders in the mechanization financing ecosystem, including beneficiaries, financial institutions, manufacturers, and equipment dealers.

“This would streamline financing processes, reduce delays, and enhance accessibility for smallholder farmers,” the report notes.

Furthermore, the report recommends the adoption of accessible and affordable digital and automation technologies to address inefficiencies in agricultural mechanization.

Emerging tools, such as smartphone applications for crop disease identification and digital platforms for farm management, can significantly advance the sector towards agriculture 4.0, leveraging technologies like IoT, cloud computing, big data, AI, and decision support systems.

There is also the need to develop programs to improve digital literacy, technical skills, and readiness among stakeholders, particularly small and medium-scale farmers, processors, and distributors. Increased capacity in these areas will drive the adoption and effective utilization of digital and automation technologies.

“Local agricultural equipment manufacturers need support in improving the quality and competitiveness of their products. This includes addressing challenges such as limited access to capital, high operational costs, outdated manufacturing methods, and insufficient skills and capacity-building opportunities,” the report adds.

The report recommends the fostering of a conducive ecosystem to enhance support structures and systems for local manufacturers through organizations like the Small Industries Development Organization (SIDO) and the Centre for Agricultural Mechanization and Rural Technology (CAMARTEC).

“This includes providing access to modern tools, skills training, and policy incentives to stimulate innovation and growth in local equipment manufacturing,” the report says.

Engineer Victor Byanjweli is a horticulture farmer based in Iringa and the Regional Coordinator for Irrigation and Mechanization who believes the idea behind Kilimotech Accelerator being implemented by AGRA in collaboration with Sahara Accelerator is a huge investment in smallholder farmers’ future.

“First I commend the whole idea of promoting mechanization amongst smallholder farmers, empowering the farmers and people with innovative ideas at the grassroots is huge in itself because it will do more than increase productivity,” he says.

He added that the problem is not only in the use of modern implements and machinery but also there is a serious shortage of operators and workshops.

“As such my first impression of what Sahara Accelerator wants to bring to the table is a great leap forward by any stretch and we are looking forward to working with them,” he adds.

AGRA is an African-led institution with the vision to contribute to a food system-inspired inclusive agricultural transformation across Africa, to reduce hunger, improve nutrition, and adapt to climate change.

The institution’s mission is to transform the lives of smallholder farmers from that of a solitary struggle for survival to a business that thrives.

Since 2006, it has worked with our partners, governments, non-governmental organizations, private sector businesses, and more; to deliver a set of proven solutions to smallholder farmers and indigenous African agricultural enterprises.