DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania: PRIME Minister Mwigulu Nchemba has announced the Tanzanian government’s plans to procure 10,000 tractors and establish 1,000 integrated agricultural machinery service centers at ward level across the country.
The initiative aims to increase agricultural productivity, reduce production costs for farmers, and enable them to have more time to engage in other economic activities.
Dr Nchemba made the remarks on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, in Dar es Salaam while officiating the First African Regional Conference on Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization. The conference seeks to lay the foundation for regional cooperation in advancing the Framework for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization in Africa (F-SAMA).
He emphasized the importance of strengthening investment in environmentally friendly agricultural machinery that takes into account the impacts of climate change. He noted that such machinery should reduce the burden of labor on farmers, increase productivity, minimize post-harvest losses, and protect the environment through the use of technologies that are resilient to climate-related challenges such as droughts and changing seasons.
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The Prime Minister further stressed the need to ensure strong and deliberate participation of the private sector in the production, distribution, and provision of agricultural machinery services. He said governments should create an enabling environment through appropriate policies, legal frameworks, and investment incentives to allow the private sector to play a full role, increase access to agricultural machinery, and lower costs for farmers.
Additionally, Dr Nchemba highlighted the importance of empowering youth and women to actively participate in agribusiness, innovation, and the provision of agricultural machinery services. He noted that these groups possess strong labor potential, creativity, and the capacity to drive rapid change if provided with training, capital, technology, and market opportunities.
He concluded by stating that empowering youth and women is a cornerstone of inclusive and sustainable development, emphasizing that such efforts should be measured through specific indicators, including job creation, establishment of sustainable enterprises, and their participation in agricultural machinery value chains.
