ACSAM delegates hail IITA youth model as Africa’s blueprint in agricultural transformation

13 February 2026

ACSAM delegates with IITA youth participants and staff during the field visit. (Photo credit: FAO).
ACSAM delegates with IITA youth participants and staff during the field visit. (Photo credit: FAO).

When over 100 delegates from the Africa Conference on Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (ACSAM) visited the IITA–CGIAR Youth Incubation Centre on 6 February in Dar es Salaam, they witnessed a demonstration of a model that turned four days of conference deliberations into a tangible reality. The key takeaways endorsed by 400 stakeholders were not merely theoretical ideals; they were already operational, scalable, and transforming lives in Tanzania.

“What you are doing truly reflects the discussions we have had over the past three days,” said Mark Fynn, Policy Officer at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). “We sincerely thank IITA for hosting us and demonstrating that these discussions are not just theoretical but are being actively implemented on the ground. We are excited to witness this in action.”

IITA youth beneficiary demonstrates a bio-fertilizer product developed through the program's training and mentorship. (Photo credit: FAO).
IITA youth beneficiary demonstrates a bio-fertilizer product developed through the program’s training and mentorship. (Photo credit: FAO).

The four-day gathering, organized by FAO from 3-6 February 2026, brought together approximately 400 participants, including representatives of farming communities, mechanization practitioners, researchers, development partners, government officials, extension officers, civil society organizations, thought leaders, and private-sector actors. The conference explored new pathways for sustainable agricultural mechanization and produced several recommendations. Remarkably, the IITA Youth Incubation Centre is already implementing many of them.

In line with the conference theme of enhancing investment and financing, the Center presented its partnerships-driven model involving municipal councils, financial institutions, and the various Foundations. Through these collaborations, youth gain access to soft loans at 10% interest, financed by municipal internal revenue. To date, the Center has supported 16 youth and women’s groups, each comprising an average of 5 members, totaling approximately USD 7,200 per group. These funds have enabled enterprises in poultry production, cassava value addition, organic fertilizer production, maize milling, fruit and vegetable farming, and financial literacy services.

Advancing service-based mechanization business models, program graduates now operate youth-led farming enterprises, mechanized agro-processing ventures, and agribusiness start-ups. Many have transitioned into self-employment as professional service providers or cooperative members, creating jobs and strengthening local value chains.

Responding to the conference’s call for African solutions to African challenges and for stronger mechanization ecosystems, IITA showcased its two-decade partnership with Intermech Engineering Limited (IEL), a Tanzania-based company that manufactures agricultural implements and agro- and food-processing machinery tailored to local conditions.

What began as an initiative to adapt cassava processing equipment has evolved into a national and regional hub for postharvest and processing technologies, serving farming communities across the region.

“At IITA-CGIAR, we recognize that mechanization only works when it fits the local context,” said Dr Frederick Baijukya, IITA Country Representative for Tanzania. “Our approach goes beyond importing technologies. We collaborate closely with local artisans, engineers, and the private sector partners to co-create, co-engineer, and adapt machinery that is functional, maintainable, and sustainably adopted by farmers and agribusiness.”

While opportunities remain to further strengthen the model, the Center’s impact underscores its potential for replication across the continent. Since its establishment, it has trained and supported more than 10,000 youth and women farmers in Dar es Salaam, Newala, Mafinga, Dodoma, and Singida through hands-on practical knowledge transfer and technology adoption.

For delegates from across Africa, the Center offered more than inspiration; it presented a blueprint. The model demonstrates that sustainable agricultural mechanization depends on adapting proven approaches to local contexts, expanding youth access to finance and technology, and building partnerships that reinforce local capacity and long-term resilience.

Contributed by Gloriana Ndibalema and Hadi Rashid