African Conservation Tillage Network (ACT) felt honored to be part of the first ever Global Conference on Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) from September 27-29, 2023 in Rome, Italy. The event provided a platform that enabled diverse and open sharing of experiences, innovations and information on Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (SAM) thereby fostering learning and widespread awareness and interest on adoption and scaling up of SAM technologies and innovations. The discourse during the event involved taking stock, reflecting and organizing further actions on what is necessary for agricultural mechanization transformation and how to effectively promote appropriate SAM to make the transformation a reality for all farmers.

Saidi Mkomwa, Executive Director and CEO of ACT, chaired a Session under thematic session 6 on Inclusive Business Models and Multi-stakeholder Engagement. The session focused on issues related to small-scale farmers, women and youth, and suggested ways to develop new business models by engaging multi-stakeholder players in the promotion, management and operation of modern agricultural equipment and machinery. Saidi Mkomwa also made a presentation at the GAMC side event titled ‘Using Precision Seeding to Optimize Crop Yield’. His address was focused on “The potential benefits of precision seeding technologies and how to enhance adoption by smallholder farmers”.

In addition, Prof. El Hassane Bourarach, ACT technical advisor, participated in this global event and made a presentation titled ‘Creating sustainable institutions and long-term vision frameworks for SAM in Africa’ during the thematic session on Business Models and Multi-stakeholder Engagement. In his presentation, El Hassane stressed the need to accommodate the ‘AfricaMechanize’ platform in Africa as a starting point for stakeholders’ engagement giving some examples where the platform, facilitated by the African Union Commission (AUC), United Nations for Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and ACT, has utilized to organize a series of SAM webinars, support the establishment of a network of Directors of Agricultural Mechanization and Engineering Services (DAMES) across Africa, and enhance capacity building for mechanization service providers.

Guided by the principle of knowledge and information sharing that defines the limited value of knowledge or information unless it is widely shared, ACT has limitlessly supported Knowledge and Information Sharing in Africa as key component in a promotion and adoption of SAM technologies and CA practices through different approaches that include: Organization and implementation of Africa Congresses on CA in Lusaka (2014), Johannesburg (2018) and lately Rabat, Morocco (2023). The events have strengthened Africa’s position on Conservation Agriculture and Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization. Another notable knowledge sharing programme is the FAO-supported capacity development of SAM service providers and stakeholders in 20 Countries in Africa. The online AfricaMechanize Platform (www.africamechanize.org) developed and hosted by ACT has become the core platform for exchanges on all aspects of sustainable mechanization in Africa, including capacity building, partnerships, and technical assistance. During the 8^th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture (8WCCA), held in June 2021, a special Africa plenary session entitled “Experiences and Investments in Conservation Agriculture and Sustainable Mechanization for Smallholders in Africa” was jointly organized by ACT and FAO. At the event a publication on ‘Agri-hire in sub-Saharan Africa – Business Models for investing in sustainable mechanization’ was launched and five case studies on successful Conservation Agriculture practices in Africa were presented.

As part of operationalization of Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization framework for Africa (F-SAMA), ACT jointly with FAO, AUC and other partners have promoted the entrepreneurial mechanization service provision (EMeSP) model focused on creating a pool of well-trained service providers and networks within the farming communities with a view to enhance access and quality service availability. This is intended to support accessibility and affordability of agricultural equipment and services by the producers or users and especially the poorest as one of the key components in advancing agricultural development and growth. Making agricultural mechanization in Africa commercially sustainable involves building sustainable systems for importation, manufacture, distribution and servicing of mechanization inputs. In many countries in Africa, the agricultural machinery and implements sectors are small and limits their accessibility and affordability. With the support from FAO, under the project "Capacity Building of Agricultural Mechanization Service Providers along the Agri-Food Value Chain”, ACT recruited and trained potential service providers and linked them to clients and equipment suppliers. With advancement of ICT, creating linkages by ACT has been made easier. Mechanization and digitalization are compelling edge for the youths. This will make the youth value and thrive in agriculture as it gives wider entry points into the food production value chain. ACT is working with private companies like TROTRO Tractor Limited (TTL) https://www.trotrotractor.com/; Hello Tractor Kenya Limited https://hellotractor.com/ and Tinga Rental Store to advance digitalization in supporting access to mechanization services.

Further, to support the operationalization of the F-SAMA, ACT in partnership with and support from FAO, developed the Directions for Investment (D4I) in sustainable agricultural mechanization in Africa. The study assessed the interlinked social, economic, institutional and environmental conditions defining the entry points needed for leveraging investments in SAM along the entire agrifood value chain in line with AUC-FAO Framework for SAMA and aligned to the National Agricultural Investment Plans (NAIPs). The D4I study covered eight African Union countries including Benin, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zambia. Deep Dive Case Studies were also developed for Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania.

ACT is dedicated to improving agricultural productivity through promotion and adoption of Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization technologies, Conservation Agriculture practices, and sustainable management of natural resources in African farming systems and will continue to build, promote and commit to mutual collaboration, partnerships and networking drawing on collective synergies and complementarities. ACT is committed to implement the Conference’s call to actions resolutions in Africa as part of the F-SAMA operationalization efforts.

ACT sincerely appreciate and acknowledge FAO for organizing such high profile and first ever global event on SAM. The event has clearly set the pace for SAM revolutions and mechanizing the globe equitably. ACT is indebted to FAO for its participation.

For more information visit: https://www.act-africa.org/ or www.africamechanize.org