Egerton University Launches Drive to Boost Mechanised Farming

Key Highlights

• Egerton University partners with IROC Tractors and Agypro International to promote mechanised farming.
• Plans underway to set up a tractor assembly unit at the university to serve local farmers.
• Initiative targets women and youth smallholder farmers, promoting access to affordable, farmer-friendly machinery.
• Mechanisation hubs to link service providers with smallholders lacking farm equipment.
• University leaders say mechanisation can reduce labour costs, raise yields, and create rural jobs.
• Kenya’s mechanisation levels remain low at three tractors per 1,000 hectares, compared to global averages.
• Experts urge youth to invest in agri-mechanisation as a viable business frontier.

Egerton’s Mechanisation Push Targets Kenya’s Next Generation of Farmers

Egerton University has unveiled an ambitious programme aimed at promoting the adoption of modern agricultural technologies and mechanisation among smallholder farmers, particularly women and youth.

Vice Chancellor Professor Isaac Kibwage said the university is working closely with IROC Tractors and Agypro International to establish a local tractor assembly unit at Egerton. The plant will sell both spare parts and complete tractor units, making machinery more accessible to local farmers.

“We envision a future where young and female farmers can access subsidised mechanisation,” said Prof. Kibwage. “This will help reduce dependence on manual labour, which is not only strenuous but uneconomical. Mechanisation is key to improving productivity and making farming attractive to the youth.”

Public-Private Partnerships for Mechanisation Hubs

The initiative includes the creation of mechanisation hubs—centres where service providers can connect with farmers who lack equipment. Through these partnerships, Egerton aims to strengthen agricultural productivity, expand rural employment, and empower farmers with technical skills.

Prof. Kibwage said the project aligns with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which seeks to expand economic opportunities for grassroots communities.

“By giving youth and women access to affordable, farmer-ready technologies, we’re supporting both food security and rural prosperity,” he added.

Women-Centered Mechanisation and Training

According to Prof. Kibwage, advances in technology now allow the manufacture of lightweight, affordable machines suitable for women smallholders. He dismissed the notion that mechanisation is a preserve of large-scale farmers, noting that such thinking limits food security progress.

“Mechanisation enables timely land preparation, efficient land use, and higher yields,” he said. “It also lowers costs and creates new employment opportunities, especially for youth.”

The university is encouraging dealers and manufacturers to offer user-friendly designs, genuine spare parts, and nationwide mobile support. Prof. Kibwage further urged machinery dealers to provide training packages for new buyers covering equipment use, maintenance, and performance optimisation.

Expert Insights: Mechanisation as the Key to Food Security

Professor Nzula Kitaka, Egerton’s Director of Marketing and Resource Mobilisation, noted that mechanisation not only improves harvesting efficiency but also reduces post-harvest losses by up to 20%. However, she observed that many Kenyan farmers still shy away from adopting machinery due to limited capital and financing options.

“The continent’s population is expected to double by 2050,” Prof. Kitaka said. “Feeding that population will require us to abandon the hoe and embrace technology.”

She added that youth entrepreneurs could tap into the mechanisation sector, which remains largely underdeveloped despite its vast potential.

Kenya’s Mechanisation Gap

A World Bank report shows that Kenya has just three tractors per 1,000 hectares, or 26.9 per 100 square kilometres — a stark contrast to India’s 128 and Brazil’s 116 tractors per square kilometre.

The report attributes this gap to high costs, limited financing options, and low awareness among smallholder farmers. While machinery hire services and cooperative models exist, their reach and efficiency remain limited.

Sub-Saharan Africa as a whole has one of the lowest mechanisation rates globally, averaging fewer than two tractors per 1,000 hectares. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) warns that without mechanisation, productivity will stagnate, further limiting farmer incomes.

Private Sector Partnerships and Local Assembly

During a recent visit to Egerton University, a delegation from IROC Tractors and Agypro International—led by Jaclyn Schess, Mike Christensen, Emmanuel Juma, and Bill Bough Miller—confirmed plans to localise tractor assembly in Nakuru County.

Mr. Miller said that IROC tractors are currently being tested and calibrated by Egerton engineers and students to adapt them for Kenya’s diverse topography. The goal, he said, is to make them affordable, easy to maintain, and suitable for both men and women.

He added that the collaboration aims to equip farmers with technical knowledge through workshops, field days, and demonstrations. “Training is critical if we are to maximise returns from mechanisation,” Miller noted.

A Look Back: Kenya’s Journey with Mechanisation

Kenya’s efforts to mechanise agriculture date back to 1965, when the Tractor Hire Service (THS) was launched to promote modern land preparation and private tractor ownership. Over time, it evolved into the Agricultural Mechanisation Services (AMS), now managed by county governments.

Today, AMS stations across the country provide services like dam construction, road grading, bush clearing, and land levelling. Despite progress, experts note that farm power availability has stagnated across Africa, and the region still commands only 3% of the global agricultural machinery market.

The Way Forward

Egerton University believes that partnerships, financing, and innovation hold the key to reversing this trend. The planned assembly plant and mechanisation hubs are expected to serve as models for other regions, promoting localized manufacturing, skills transfer, and affordable access to technology.

“We must move from discussions to implementation,” said Prof. Kibwage. “Mechanisation is no longer optional—it is essential for Kenya’s agricultural future.”