The Institute of Agricultural Engineering in Zimbabwe

The Institute of Agricultural Engineering (IAE) is a branch of the department of Agricultural Mechanization within the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanization and Irrigation development.

Background

Farm mechanization dates back to 1912 when the first tractor (Fairbanks-Morse) was imported into the country. By 1947, the number of tractors in the country had increased to 1,155 rising to 3,448 and 12,115 tractors in 1949 and 1961 respectively.A Standing Committee on Agricultural Mechanization (SCAM) was established in 1962 to spearhead rapid agricultural mechanization. A farm machinery training centre (FMTC) was established at Domboshawa in 1964 and later renamed the Agricultural Engineering Training Centre (AETC). The SCAM established the Institute of Agricultural Engineering (IAE) whose responsibilities included research, development and adaptation of imported machinery to local conditions.O

These institutions were mainly geared towards offering support services to the Large scale farmers but today the primary mandate addresses the smallholder farmers needs exhaustively. The target group includes all farming sectors, manufacturers and service industries, small rural repair workshops and various government departments.

The work undertaken by the Institute is divided into two key areas;

1. Research, testing and development
2. Training

Currently the Institute has a staff compliment of just above 100 who include engineers, technicians, artisans and nontechnical staff. All committed to the research and development and promoting of technologies and technique for enhancing sustainable food production.

The IAE comprises six key sections which are expounded on below.

1. Farm Power and Machinery

To conduct research, testing, development and training activities on agricultural mechanization technologies and practices to improve agricultural productivity in all farming sectors.

2. Soil and Water Conversation

Improved management of natural resources through provision of research and extension services in soil and water conservation technologies.

3. Post-Harvest Technologies

To contribute to food security, profitable and sustainable productivity through the provision of effective research, testing and development in postharvest technologies of durabke and perishable crops.

4. Farm Structures

Research and development of farm structures such as greenhouses, tobacco barns and other production, procesing and storage structures.

5. Training

To provide effective training in agricultural machinery operation and maintenance and animal draught power and rural technology.

6. Irrigation

The Zimbabwe Irrigation Technology Centre, whose objective is to test and provide and provide irrigation regulation standards as well as research, is under the IAE.


As alluded to earlier, the Institute plays a key role in promoting the adoption of techiques as well as technologies that ensure sustainable farming interventions. Currently, the IAE in collaboration with Food Agriculture Organization(FAO) and CIMMYT in developing and promoting development and adoption of Conservation Agriculture(CA) machinery. The Conversation Agriculture agenda is being pursued to ensure sustainable tillage practices that conserve the soil as the key resource and also improve productivity.

The introduction of CA machinery has its own challenges. End users require skills to set, operate, calibrate and maintain the equipment and the Institute has been fulfilling that role. The various CA machinery and hands-on training will enable farmers to make informed choices on the type of implement they can use within their circumstances.

This is just a highlight of what the IAE has been able to accomplish with just government and a few other external funders. With a bigger Research and Development budget, The Institute is capable of becoming a pillar of technology development and knowledge transfer centre for Zimbabwe and the region as it houses some of the best minds in agricultural engineering in Africa.