Africa-Press – Tanzania. TANZANIA is set to benefit significantly from the Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization Conference after successfully hosting the event and gaining opportunities to improve the use of modern farming tools the Ministry of Agriculture affirmed in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
Speaking during the climax of the conference, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture responsible for Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization, Engineer Athumani Kilundumya, said the country had gained valuable experience and insights that would help strengthen efficiency in the agricultural sector.
He explained that the implementation of a ten-year action plan had identified several challenges, which have now been transformed into opportunities for improving productivity through better use of modern agricultural tools.
He called on Tanzanian innovators to design and develop agricultural machinery, assuring them that the ministry would prioritize and support local innovators.
Engineer Kilundumya also encouraged investors to invest in Tanzania to help reach more farmers and support the adoption of modern agriculture. He said the government believes Tanzanians have the capacity to adapt and improve productivity if they are empowered and supported.
On his part, the Assistant Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Charles Tulai, said the conference aimed to develop strategies that would drive a revolution in the use of agricultural machinery across Africa.
He noted that youth participation in agriculture has been declining, and discussions during the conference focused on how to support young people with access to efficient farming tools that increase production, reduce costs, and strengthen agricultural value chains.
He added that Africa has great potential for food production, and the use of modern tools can help reduce food shortages and address the impacts of climate change.
Agricultural stakeholder Patrick Kello from Kenya said Africa is facing serious challenges caused by climate change, which has affected food availability.
He said the conference discussed practical solutions, including providing modern machinery to farmer groups at affordable prices and offering training on the use of improved seeds.
Meanwhile, a representative from the Small Industries Development Organization (SIDO), Engineer Amani Meja, said the conference would help transform traditional farming into modern agriculture, enabling farmers to double their production. He added that the meeting emphasized value addition through the use of modern machinery and technologies such as drones for irrigation and crop monitoring.
He said SIDO plays a key role in linking machinery manufacturers with small-scale farmers to ensure easy access to planting and harvesting machines.
In addition, the Communications Officer from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Gloriana Ntibalema, said women and youth are heavily involved in agriculture, but challenges related to infrastructure and women-friendly machinery remain.
She noted that most agricultural machines are designed with men in mind, making it difficult for women to use them efficiently. She therefore called for the development of gender-responsive machines that meet women’s needs and can perform multiple tasks simultaneously.
