Background
Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (SAM) has great potential to contribute to the growth and modernization of the agricultural sector in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) along the value chain. However, the use of mechanization technologies and entrepreneurial skills is still very low. Moreover, many smallholder farmers often do not have the necessary capital or access to long-term credit to invest in the required farm machinery, which helps them increase their land and labor productivity, increase their incomes, and improve their livelihoods.
Poorly selected or wrongly used machinery can, in addition to increasing utilization cost, damage the soils and actually reduce their potential. Farmers, therefore, need access to appropriate quality mechanization services to enhance their production and significantly contribute to the sustainable conservation or improvement of soil quality and its water retention capacity. It is for this reason that AUC, FAO, ACT, and other partners advocate for sustainable agricultural mechanization and enhanced access to mechanization services by smallholder farmers in Africa.
The joint efforts are undertaken to operationalize Sustainable agricultural mechanization – A framework for Africa (F-SAMA). This is only possible if the right human resources are skilled enough to support the sector at all levels. It is thus vital to strengthen the capacity of private and public-sector technology development and transfer organizations, as they play a key role in the process of developing and transferring SAM technologies.
The implementation of sustainable agricultural mechanization is an ongoing challenge in SSA, due largely to limited capacity and a lack of enabling conditions. Another hurdle is the inaccessibility (or a lack of awareness) of the considerable body of existing knowledge on, and experiences in, the implementation of SAM. There is a lack of records and objective and balanced analysis of past experiences (successful and/or failed programmes) to draw useful lessons to inform policy and planning. To help overcome this latter problem, the AfricaMechanize platform www.africamechanize.org has been established to support capacity development in the sector with strategic involvement of ministries (of agriculture, education, and science and technology), trade and industry, farmer organizations, and private- and public-sector agrifood supply chain stakeholders, in addition to those working in the agricultural machinery and implement supply chains.
Sustainable agrifood technologies and practices are relatively new in many parts of SSA; in contrast, the curricula of higher education and training institutions tend to be quite static. New areas of knowledge, such as precision farming and conservation agriculture, are emerging and need to be mainstreamed. Finally, capacity development is essential at all levels, from farmers through to artisans, technicians, and professional managers, in addition to policy and planning experts.
The systemic capacity development (at the individual entrepreneur, partner institution, and policy/strategy levels) contributing to F-SAMA Element 8: Human resources development and capacity building for SAMA. Furthermore, the identification, capacity development, and networking of the agricultural mechanization service providers (MSP) support institutions across Africa, presenting a unique entry point for institution building, thus an expected contribution to Element 10: Creating sustainable institutions for regional cooperation and networking. Overall, these activities will also contribute to Element 1: Boosting Farm Power through appropriate technologies and innovative business models.
The main objective of the MSPs course is to raise awareness among the agri-food machinery players on the opportunities offered in sustainable agricultural mechanization service provision, build the capacity of MSPs to enhance their service provision, and improve access to mechanization services by smallholder farmers. This will also enhance their understanding of conservation agriculture technology and practices, and how to provide quality mechanization service provision as a business.
The core approach to capacity building of MSPs is anchored on the identification, supporting, and strengthening of partner institutions at the grassroots and national level that will ultimately be responsible for the MSP operator trainings and the cluster-based support services. In addition to strengthening the local partners, the training of the Trainer of Trainers (ToTs) at the partner level is supported using approved training materials and curricula, leading to certification of qualified ToTs by AfricaMechanize. The ultimate goal is to ensure the continued provision of the capacity development training services in the short and medium term.
Initial considerations include:
- Involvement of the for-profit mechanization services providers that have a business interest in keeping providing the services,
- Support from national governments, development partners, and philanthropy is mitigating the effects of CSA and pandemics.
- Strategic interventions on productivity-enhancing CSA technologies (conservation agriculture-based mechanization) and technologies reducing food spoilage and wastage.