MZURI Afrika Company has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative to establish a demo farm in the Vigwaza area of Kibaha District, aimed at transforming the agricultural sector by utilizing state-of-the-art machinery.

MZURI Afrika Company has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative to establish a demo farm in the Vigwaza area of Kibaha District, aimed at transforming the agricultural sector by utilizing state-of-the-art machinery.

The 300-hectare project, located in the Coast region, is over 60 percent complete, with crop planting scheduled to begin in mid-January next year. 

The initiative focuses on demonstrating advanced farming techniques and technologies, offering local farmers practical insights and tools to enhance productivity and sustainability through the use of hydraulic machinery.

MZURI Afrika's Managing Director, Shaban Mgonja, stressed the importance of modern tools to boost agricultural productivity in response to the rising demand in global markets.

“Preparations for the farm are ongoing, and we expect to start planting seeds at the beginning of the year, coinciding with the rainy season,” Mgonja announced during a ceremony bidding farewell to graduates at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA).

As part of the project, five operators were trained at SUA through a two-month program, focusing on handling the sophisticated machinery to be used on the farm.

The hydraulic machinery is a game-changer, capable of performing four tasks simultaneously: digging, planting seeds, applying fertilizers, and aerating the soil.

"It can cover five to seven acres per hour, a significant improvement over traditional hand-hoe farming methods," said Mgonja. "On average, two operators can manage up to 1,000 acres from planting to harvest, drastically reducing operational costs for farmers."

The new technology also promotes conservation agriculture, which helps preserve land over multiple farming seasons and reduces fertilizer use by 30 to 40 percent.

Dr. Nelson Makange, Acting Head of the Agro-Mechanization Unit at SUA, noted that this technology will greatly enhance wheat production due to its efficiency.

“Training farmers, especially youth, on the proper use of agricultural equipment will attract more people to the field,” Dr Makange said.

MZURI Afrika also highlighted the success of these machines in Poland, where they have been shown to produce up to 14.25 tonnes of wheat per hectare. 

In comparison, data from the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) indicates that the average yield in Tanzania is currently about 1.6 tonnes per hectare.

Efforts are underway to boost productivity in Tanzania through both intensification and extensification, with a target of reaching at least 3.0 tonnes per hectare.

The company is also committed to raising public awareness, particularly among youth, to increase their involvement in agriculture.

“There is growing interest among young people in farming, and by improving their methods—especially through the use of modern machines—we can promote modern, efficient agriculture,”  Mgonja added.

Since 2022, at least 26 students specializing in agricultural machinery have graduated from SUA, with many securing employment due to the high demand for skilled machine operators.

One of the recent graduates, Naomi Mhina, the only female operator of such machinery on the continent shared her experience by saying:  “The journey wasn’t easy, especially as a woman in this field. However, I persevered because I saw the opportunity and knew I could succeed”.

The partnership between the company and SUA focuses on training operators in advanced agricultural machinery, by equipping participants with essential skills to effectively operate state-of-the art equipment, enhancing productivity and innovation in agriculture sector.

By combining academic expertise with practical training, this initiative seeks to prepare a skilled workforce capable of meeting growing demands for modern farming.