Service provider model for smallholder mechanization in southern Africa

Smallholder mechanization is the call of the day in southern Africa. Learning from 30 years of experience in Bangladesh, CIMMYT has adapted a to the conditions of southern Africa to drive transformational change in rural areas. For sustainable uptake of mechanization, it is important to focus only on introducing the appropriate scale machinery but implement a full mechanization package solution including essential training and capacity
building (machinery operators, mechanics, and manufacturers/suppliers), and establishing after sale services and spare parts supply network. This model and the equipment involved are following the philosophy of no free hand outs, farming as a year-round business and climatesmart agriculture.