(Nakuru) – Egerton University is taking steps to boost food production and enhance food security in Kenya by equipping women farmers from nine counties with vital mechanized farming skills. The university is developing public-private partnerships to establish mechanization hubs that will link providers of agricultural machinery with women smallholder farmers who lack access to such tools.
Prof. Bernard Aduda, Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academics, Research, and Extension at Egerton University, announced that the training has already begun for more than 200 women farmers from counties including Kisumu, Bomet, Nakuru, Kericho, Kisii, Nyamira, Laikipia, Uasin Gishu, and Elgeyo Marakwet. These women will learn essential skills to help them secure food supplies and overcome existing barriers in food production systems.
The initiative aims to encourage women farmers to adopt mechanized farming techniques, which will not only improve crop yields but also make farming more appealing to younger generations. Prof. Aduda explained that the university’s goal is to provide smallholder female farmers with access to affordable mechanization, reducing reliance on human labor, which is often inefficient and costly. This training is also in support of Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which seeks to increase agricultural productivity and expand economic opportunities for grassroots communities.
“This initiative aligns with BETA’s commitment to increasing agricultural productivity and expanding economic opportunities for grassroots communities,” Prof. Aduda said.
The training program, supported by key partners such as Hello Tractors, One Acre Fund, Kenya Investment Mechanism (KIM), John Deere, CFAO Kenya, Kubota, Massey Ferguson, Heifer International Kenya, CIWaB, and Egerton University’s Faculty of Engineering and Technology, is focused on empowering women through mechanized farming. Prof. Aduda noted that technological advancements in farming machinery have made light, affordable machines available to women farmers, allowing them to increase both the quality and quantity of crops grown and processed.
“The University is seeking ways of enhancing food security through mechanized farming, irrigation, and use of quality seeds and appropriate fertilizers,” Prof. Aduda further explained.
Mechanized farming is also expected to improve land preparation efficiency, boost production, reduce costs, and create more job opportunities, particularly for women and youth. Prof. Aduda highlighted the importance of agricultural machinery dealers providing smallholder farmers with the necessary technical training to operate and maintain their equipment effectively. He emphasized the need for machinery products to be designed simply, with excellent fuel economy and minimal maintenance needs, to ensure that they are practical and reliable for small-scale farmers.
In addition, he stressed that asset financing models should be adapted to suit both smallholder and large-scale farmers, as many new farmers lack experience with machinery such as planters and tractors. Dealers should also include training as part of their service packages to help new buyers make the most of their equipment and enhance food production.
Prof. Japheth Onyando, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at Egerton University, pointed out that mechanized farming not only improves crop harvesting but also lowers costs and reduces post-harvest losses by up to 20%. The training program also aims to promote gender inclusion in mechanized agriculture, allowing women to play an active role in transforming Kenya’s agricultural sector.
The curriculum for the training program combines both theoretical and practical knowledge, covering subjects like tractor maintenance, handling, field operations, and advanced farming techniques. This well-rounded approach is designed to provide women with the skills necessary to thrive in a modern agricultural environment.
A recent World Bank report highlighted that Kenya’s mechanization levels are very low, with just three tractors per 1,000 hectares of farmland. The low levels of mechanization across Africa are attributed to factors such as inadequate training, poor technology adoption, limited research and development, and the high capital costs of machinery. The report noted that developed countries like India and Brazil have significantly higher tractor densities, which have helped to increase agricultural productivity.
In Africa, the average is about one to two tractors per square kilometer, while in South Asia and Latin America, the figures are 10 and 12 tractors per 1,000 hectares, respectively. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has also pointed out that Africa’s mechanization levels are far below those of other regions, with Africa having fewer than two tractors per 1,000 hectares of cropland.
Despite these challenges, Egerton University’s mechanized farming initiative represents a crucial step toward improving Kenya’s agricultural sector and boosting food security through modern farming practices.