Promoting mechanized farming technologies in Mbire and Murewa through the Agroecology Fairs

As part of the CGIAR Initiative on Agroecology, the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Mechanization and Extension activity participated in the 2024 Agroecology Fairs held in Murewa and Mbire districts on September 25 and October 17, respectively. The events provided an invaluable platform to collaborate with the initiative and showcase different scaling pathways for mechanization within the context of sustainable, efficient farming.

At the Mechanization and Extension activity's exhibition stand, visitors explored an array of machinery specifically tailored to small-scale farming needs. Among the featured equipment were the basin digger, two-wheel tractor, multi-crop thresher, chopper grinder, trailer, and peanut butter processing machines, including a groundnut sheller, peanut roaster, and peanut butter-making machine. Each piece of equipment was carefully selected to align with existing activities within the initiative and to demonstrate practical solutions for improving labor efficiency and enhancing crop productivity that could be needed during agroecology transitions.

The basin digger, in particular, drew significant attention, especially from farmers either encountering it for the first time or wanting to know more about how they could become service providers. Designed for creating basins such as those established under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa conservation agriculture program, the basin digger was showcased as significantly reducing labor and time in land preparation, especially for those with limited access to manual labor.

The service provision model: a pathway to accessible mechanization

Participants interested in the service provision model received first-hand information on how they could sign up and benefit from the process. The Service Provision Model has been designed by the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Mechanization and Extension activity to facilitate year-round access to mechanization services in farming communities. Through this model, trained service providers are established locally to offer a range of fee-based services, including land preparation, crop management, post-harvest processing, value addition, and transportation. This model makes essential machinery accessible to farmers without requiring them to purchase it outright. To support the establishment of service providers, three main financing options are offered:

• Loan facility: Prospective service providers apply for a loan from BancABC, with a 30% initial deposit of the total machinery cost. Upon approval, the balance is paid directly to the machinery supplier, who then delivers the equipment.
• Hire purchase agreement: Service providers may opt for a hire purchase arrangement with the manufacturer, where machinery is provided after an agreed deposit, with the remaining balance paid over three to four months.
• Outright cash purchase: Community members with available funds can purchase machinery directly.

Strong community interest and prospects for growth

The Mechanization and Extension activity stand generated substantial interest among farmers in both districts. In Murewa, 95 participants engaged with the display, with eight potential service providers expressing interest in acquiring the peanut butter-making machine, manual groundnut sheller, and peanut roaster. Groundnut production is high in Murewa, so farmers were especially intrigued by the value addition machinery, which opens new opportunities for processing and marketing. "As groundnut farmers, these machines will give us a business opportunity, to sell peanut butter in large quantities," explained Colleta Nzara. "We used to lose so much money by just selling unshelled groundnuts because very few could manually process into peanut butter, but with these machines, the whole process is so much easier" added Florence Mutize of Murewa district.

In Mbire, where 57 participants visited the stand, the basin digger was a major attraction. "This is the first time I am seeing this machine that can ease our labor burdens when making our Pfumvudza plots," shared Jennifer Nyatande from Mbire district. "I'm eager to invest in one to both reduce costs on my farm and offer services to others," she added.

The 2024 Agroecology Fairs provided an opportunity to demonstrate how mechanization can be both accessible and transformative for smallholder farmers. With growing interest from local communities, the Mechanization and Extension activity continues to work toward sustainable agricultural development across Zimbabwe's rural districts.