Tropentag, September 10 - 12, 2025, Bonn "Reconciling land system changes with planetary health"

Agroecology and mechanisation on selected congregation's farms in Tanzania

¹Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Dept. of Food Science and Agro-Processing, Tanzania
²Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Dept. of Civil and Water Resources Engineering, Tanzania
³Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Dept. of Agricultural Engineering, Tanzania
⁴Bern University of Applied Sciences, School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (HAFL), Switzerland

Abstract

Agricultural mechanisation is one of the key aspects in ensuring food security in the African continent. Mechanisation and agroecology can be complementary approaches to sustainable farming, but adoption is limited by factors like farm size, market access, and household characteristics to get access to the mechanisation services. A review was conducted on available knowledge on the intersection of agroecology and mechanisation in Sub-Saharan Africa with focus on Tanzania. In addition, a survey to identify specific needs of large farms for agroecology and mechanisation as well as assessment of the potential of mechanisation hire services for increasing profitability of investments in selected congregations in the country was done. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) based on focus group discussions and interviews at the selected congregations (Usambara Sisters (Korogwe), St Vincent de Paul Sisters (Mbinga) & St Franscisco Sisters (Mlimba) as well as workshops at vicinity) was used. The review revealed that mechanisation levels are still low, with 50% of farming done by hand, 27% using animal power, and only 23% with tractors. Conservation agriculture (CA) covers just 0.27% of the land. Sustainable farming methods in the sense of agroecology are not yet widespread in Sub-Saharan Africa and Tanzania in particular. The availability of the machinery suited to the needs of different farm holdings and affordability are a considerable challenge. From the survey it was reported that the congregations wants to intensify the surface for agroecological practices. Labor-intensive operations like weeding, harvesting, and compost production need mechanisation, and postharvest equipment is lacking. Although, current situation for machinery hire services is limited, congregations have potential if provided with support. The study recommends government and stakeholders involvement to enhance mechanisation through better credit access and promotion of appropriate technologies.

Keywords: Agroecological practices, agroecology, machinery hire services, mechanisation, sustainable farming

Contact Address: Susan Andrew Mbacho, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Dept. of Food Science and Agro-Processing, Morogoro, Tanzania, e-mail: susan.mbachosua.ac.tz