THE government has unveiled plans to procure 10,000 tractors and establish 1,000 ward-level agricultural mechanisation service centres nationwide, a major intervention aimed at boosting farm productivity, cutting post-harvest losses and reducing reliance on manual labour among smallholder farmers.

Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba announced the initiative yesterday while opening the First Africa Regional Conference on Sustainable Agricultural Mechanisation in Dar es Salaam, organised jointly by the  Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Dr Nchemba said the programme would bring affordable mechanisation services closer to farmers, enabling access to machinery for land preparation, planting, weeding, harvesting and post-harvest handling.

“This intervention will increase productivity and efficiency, while allowing farmers to devote time previously spent on manual labour to other economic activities,” he said.

He noted that limited access to mechanisation remains one of the biggest constraints facing Tanzanian farmers, contributing to low yields, high labour demands and significant post-harvest losses.

Under the plan, the ward-based service centres will allow farmers to hire mechanisation services at subsidised rates, reducing the need for costly individual investments in machinery. 

Dr Nchemba said the conference comes at a critical moment for Africa, as climate change, labour shortages and rising food demand continue to strain agricultural systems.

“Agricultural mechanisation is no longer an option; it is a strategic necessity for increasing productivity, building resilient food systems and improving rural livelihoods,” he said.

He added that women across the continent continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of labour-intensive farming, while many young people are leaving rural areas in search of decent employment.

“Sustainable mechanisation can help reduce gender inequality, attract youth into agriculture and unlock value across the entire food system,” he said.

The Prime Minister said Tanzania’s approach aligns with the 10-Year Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Strategy and Action Plan (2026–2035) adopted by African Union Heads of State in Kampala last year, which prioritises resilient and sustainable food systems.

In a further boost to Tanzania’s continental profile, Dr Nchemba said the country is ready to host a proposed FAO Centre of Excellence for Agricultural Mechanisation in Africa, pledging land and full government support. 

“We invite FAO to consider Tanzania as the host country. The government stands ready to provide all necessary support to ensure the success of this centre,” he said.

If established, the centre would serve as a hub for research, skills development, innovation and knowledge-sharing in agricultural mechanisation across the continent.

FAO Chief Scientist Dr Charles Spillane, who delivered the keynote address, said sustainable mechanisation is essential to closing yield gaps, reducing post-harvest losses and improving livelihoods, particularly for smallholder farmers.

“Mechanisation must be treated not as a single piece of equipment, but as a system that integrates technology, skills, energy access, finance and policy,” he said.

Dr Spillane noted that women farmers across Africa continue to face limited access to mechanisation services, finance and training, despite carrying much of the physically demanding agricultural work.

“Sustainable mechanisation must deliberately reduce the labour burden on women and create opportunities for youth as service providers, technicians and entrepreneurs,” he said.

Dr Nchemba also called for stronger private sector participation, noting that limited investment in agricultural machinery and infrastructure over the past two decades has constrained sector growth.

“As a continent, we must strengthen partnerships between governments, the private sector, research institutions and development partners to deliver practical solutions to farmers,” he said. 

He officially launched Tanzania’s Second National Agricultural Mechanisation Strategy (2026–2035) and declared the conference open, urging African countries to align national plans with the Framework for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanisation in Africa (F-SAMA).

The five-day conference has brought together ministers, policymakers, scientists, development partners and private sector leaders from across Africa and beyond to chart a path towards sustainable, inclusive and climate-resilient agricultural mechanisation.