FAO, African Union lead new push to modernise Africa's agriculture

Africa’s push to scale up sustainable agricultural mechanisation gathered momentum on Tuesday as Tanzania unveiled a new 10-year national strategy at the opening of the Africa Conference on Sustainable Agricultural Mechanisation in Dar es Salaam.

Mwigulu L. Nchemba, prime minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, launched the National Agricultural Mechanisation Strategy 2026 to 2036. He described mechanisation as critical for transforming African agriculture for present and future generations, a statement by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO, revealed.

The conference is organised by the FAO and hosted by the Tanzanian government. It brings together governments, private sector actors, researchers, development partners, youth and farmers to identify practical solutions and partnerships for expanding mechanisation across the continent.

Nchemba said the strategy aligns with the FAO, African Union Framework for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanisation in Africa and places women and youth at the centre of implementation.

Beth Bechdol, deputy director general of FAO, warned that past approaches often failed because large machines were imported without financing, training, repair services or adaptation to smallholder needs.

She said Africa requires functional mechanisation systems supported by local manufacturing, maintenance networks, innovative financing and enabling policies.

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Moses Vilakati, commissioner for agriculture, rural development, blue economy and sustainable environment at the AFRICAN UNION, said mechanisation is also a dignity agenda, reducing back-breaking labour while creating opportunities for rural communities.

Africa continues to lag behind other regions in farm power, with many farmers still dependent on manual or animal labour. The continent holds about half of the world’s uncultivated arable land, estimated at 202 million hectares, but crop yields remain only 56 percent of the global average.

Although agriculture supports about 60 percent of Africa’s population, it contributes roughly 21 percent of GDP, highlighting major productivity gaps.

Abebe Haile-Gabriel, assistant director general and regional representative for Africa at FAO, said embracing mechanisation alongside digitalisation and scientific innovation could reshape Africa’s agrifood systems.

Chef Fatmata Binta, FAO regional goodwill ambassador for Africa, cited a fonio processing project where mechanisation reduced women’s workload and created new opportunities.

Delegates will discuss youth jobs, digital transformation, financing and investment, with visits planned to a youth incubation centre and a rice mechanisation cooperative. The conference runs until 6 February.

Ruth Tene Natsa

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet. An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.