Nane Nane highlights farm machinery needs from planting to storage
Former President Jakaya Kikwete handed over a Swaraj 855 tractor to a customer who paid in cash during Nane Nane 2026. While the ceremony highlighted the tractor, it also sparked a broader conversation: do farmers have the right machines for every stage, from land preparation to storing their produce?
At the event, Agricom Africa showcased a range of equipment including tractors, power tillers, planting tools, sprayers, harvesting machines, and post-harvest crop handling gear. This gave visitors a valuable opportunity to compare machines used throughout the farming season. Following the event, Agricom’s Southern Highlands team earned first place in the Agricultural, Livestock, and Fisheries Implements category.
One sale showed what farmers need after an exhibition
Kikwete joined Agricom staff for the tractor handover after visiting the company’s stand. Regional leaders from Tanga, Pwani and Morogoro also met the team, heard how its services work and shared their views on the machinery available to farmers.
The sale turned the discussion into a farm decision. A tractor may prepare land quickly, but it can still be the wrong choice if it does not match the farm size, soil, attachments or repair options. Farmers comparing Agricom land-preparation machinery need to ask what work each machine can complete, what it will cost to run and who can repair it.
Smaller farms need smaller machines
Kristina Mabula, Agricom’s Lake Region manager, explained that the company offers equipment tailored to farmers with varying incomes and land sizes. “We serve large, medium, and small farmers,” she said, adding that their goal is to help farmers transition from hand tools to using farming as a reliable source of income.
For some, that first step might be a power tiller rather than a full-sized tractor. Others may need a planter, sprayer, or thresher more urgently. The variety of farm machinery in Tanzania is crucial because each machine should address the task that causes the biggest delay, not just be the largest piece of equipment on the farm. Factors like farm size, labor availability, and the number of days to complete each task should guide the decision.
Poor handling after harvest can erase earlier gains
A bigger harvest does not guarantee a better return. Grain left in the field or stored with too much moisture can lose quality before it reaches a buyer. Threshers, dryers, cleaners and graders can reduce those losses. Farmers considering post-harvest machinery still need to match each machine to the crop, amount harvested and storage plan.
Agricom also displayed a milking machine and other equipment for livestock farmers. Their presence showed how many farms combine crops and animals instead of relying on one activity. It also placed storage, milk handling and crop processing in the same discussion as ploughing and planting.
Farmers should help decide which machines are supplied
Agricom’s Southern Highlands team tests imported equipment under local conditions before expanding supply. They also gather feedback from farmers and share it with manufacturers. This helps identify any issues related to Tanzanian soils, crops, or working environments before more machines are introduced to the market.
While the first-place award was a positive outcome from the exhibition, farmers will ultimately be the real judges. They will assess how well the machines perform during planting and harvest, whether the instructions are easy to follow, and if repairs and spare parts remain accessible after the event. These practical results carry more weight than a demonstration, as breakdowns and delays during the short farming season can lead to direct costs.
Conclusion
The Nane Nane handover highlighted that Tanzania’s machinery needs go beyond just tractor sales. Farmers require equipment tailored to their land, crops, and budgets at every stage of production. Suppliers can facilitate this shift by actively listening to users, testing machines locally, and providing clear information both before and after sales.















