Africa Mechanize

Panel of Experts

iSAMAP-Africa Panellists

The iSAMAP-Africa Panel is a group of global sustainable agricultural mechanization experts acting as a think-tank to advise the ACT Network and subsequently, the African Union, FAO, and African governments, on policy, scientific, economic, and technical issues, and specifically the ten (10) Elements of the Sustainable Agriculture Mechanization Framework for Africa. The founding Panel will be chaired by Prof. Nuhu Hatibu, Professor of Agricultural Engineering and Executive Chairman of AfricAcademy - Arusha Science Ltd. The ACT Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Saidi Mkomwa will serve as the Technical Secretary to the Panel. The Panel members, in their personal capacity and not representing their institutions or employers, from different continents, include the following:

Prof Minli Yang - Panellist

Prof. Minli Yang is a leading professor at China Agricultural University, the director of the China Research Centre for Agricultural Mechanization, the director of the National Agricultural Mechanization Information Centre, and the dean of... Prof. Minli Yang is a leading professor at China Agricultural University, the director of the China Research Centre for Agricultural Mechanization, the director of the National Agricultural Mechanization Information Centre, and the dean of the “Belt and Road” International Innovation Institute of Agricultural

Equipment and Smart Agriculture. She also serves as Deputy Secretary-General of the Expert Steering Group for Whole-process Mechanization of Crop Production at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, as well as Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Machinery (CSAM) and Chairman of the Agricultural Mechanization Branch of CSAM.

Minli YANG’s research focuses on agricultural development strategies, policies, and planning; mechanized production modes and intelligent farm production systems; agricultural machinery informatization and big data analysis; and agricultural machinery service cooperatives and industrial development. She was awarded the Top 10 Heroine in China’s Agricultural Machinery Industry in 2007 and has won eight provincial and ministerial science and technology achievement awards, as well as multiple individual achievement awards. She is also an expert with a special government allowance from the State Council of China.

Dr Mataba Tapela - Panellist

Dr. Mataba Tapela is an Agricultural Engineer (Power and Machinery) who graduated with an MSc and PhD from Iowa State University in the USA. He has over 30 years of experience in the research... Dr. Mataba Tapela is an Agricultural Engineer (Power and Machinery) who graduated with an MSc and PhD from Iowa State University in the USA. He has over 30 years of experience in the research and development environment, serving as a scholar, researcher, consultant, and administrator. He spent the past 15 years in various executive management roles at the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) and the Botswana Institute of Technology, Research, and Innovation (BITRI). He is currently an Executive Director for Natural Resources and Materials at BITRI.

He led the transformation of BUAN from a college to a university and became its founding acting vice chancellor. He is a member of the Africa Think Tank to Respond to Emerging Technological Issues in African Agriculture, established by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). His professional work includes contributions to the development of the Framework for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization in Africa (SAMA) and conducting a Sub-regional study on the status and prospects of cross-border agricultural machinery services in Southern Africa. He has published widely in international peer-reviewed journals.

Eng. Richard Shetto - Panellist

Eng. Richard Msonga Shetto is a distinguished agricultural engineer whose career is marked by pioneering mechanization, collaborative innovation, and impactful technology transfer in Tanzania’s farming sector. Educated at the University of Dar es Salaam... Eng. Richard Msonga Shetto is a distinguished agricultural engineer whose career is marked by pioneering mechanization, collaborative innovation, and impactful technology transfer in Tanzania’s farming sector. Educated at the University of Dar es Salaam (BSc Hons in Agriculture, 1977) and the Cranfield Institute of Technology in England (MSc in Agricultural Engineering, 1983), he advanced from leading engineering research at the Agricultural Research Institute, Uyole, to high-level posts in the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). He served as the Head of the Agricultural Mechanization Unit at MoA (2001–2003), advancing to Assistant Director (2003–2008) and subsequently to Director of Agricultural Mechanization (2008–2012). Since 2013, as a private consultant, Engineer Shetto has guided sustainable mechanization initiatives nationwide.

Eng. Shetto has spearheaded transformative projects, driving the adoption through co-innovation and hands-on technology transfer. Notable among these are his advisory role in the FAO-backed “Directions for Investments in Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization in Tanzania” (2022) and his leadership in assessments across mechanization, block farming, and post-harvest technologies. He has also conducted capacity building for tillage service providers, evaluated hire service models, and led mechanization projects in rice milling and sugarcane farming.

As a registered engineer (Reg. PE 2880), member of the Institution of Engineers Tanzania, and member of the African Conservation Tillage Network, Eng. Shetto continues to serve as a catalyst for innovation and mechanization, equipping smallholder farmers with the tools and capacity to thrive.

Andriamady Rondromalala - Panellist

Mrs. Andriamady Rondromalala is a seasoned rural equipment engineer and expert in rural mechanization, currently serving as the Director of Training in Agricultural Mechanization and Higher Education in Rural Equipment at the CFFAMMA Center... Mrs. Andriamady Rondromalala is a seasoned rural equipment engineer and expert in rural mechanization, currently serving as the Director of Training in Agricultural Mechanization and Higher Education in Rural Equipment at the CFFAMMA Center in Madagascar. A dedicated public servant under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, she oversees the delivery of advanced training programs for engineers, technicians, tractor operators, and agricultural cooperatives, combining theoretical knowledge with hands-on technical skills.

With nearly two decades of experience in agricultural mechanization and rural engineering, she has played a pivotal role in strengthening technical capacity across Madagascar’s farming sector. Since 2006, she has provided strategic support to both farmers and the private sector, with a focus on technology transfer and training for sustainable mechanization. Notably, she led the National Technical Committee responsible for drafting and approving Madagascar’s national standards for agricultural machinery in 2025.

Mrs. Rondromalala holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental and Agronomic Sciences and is a qualified Rural Engineer. She is a strong advocate for sustainable mechanization as a key driver of food self-sufficiency in Africa - one that must align with both agronomic principles and environmental stewardship to ensure long-term resilience for future generations.

Hendrex, Wycliffe Kazembe Phiri (Dr. Eng.) - Panellist

Mr. Hendrex Wycliffe Kazembe Phiri is a Malawian mechanical engineer specializing in power and energy engineering. He earned his Doctor of Engineering (Dr. Eng.) degree in Mechanical System Engineering (Power/Energy) from Hiroshima University in... Mr. Hendrex Wycliffe Kazembe Phiri is a Malawian mechanical engineer specializing in power and energy engineering. He earned his Doctor of Engineering (Dr. Eng.) degree in Mechanical System Engineering (Power/Energy) from Hiroshima University in Japan in 2011. Before that, he received an MSc in Agricultural Machinery Engineering from Silsoe College, University of Cranfield, UK (1997), and a BSc (Agricultural Engineering) along with a Diploma in Agricultural Engineering from Bunda College, University of Malawi (1991 and 1989). He currently serves as a senior research scientist within the Farm Power & Machinery Engineering Unit at Malawi’s Department of Agricultural Research Services (DARS), Ministry of Agriculture, working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Energy & Natural Resources and Department of Mines. With over 33 years of practical experience, Dr. Kazembe Phiri has led R&D in farm mechanization, renewable energy, bio-oil, and fossil fuel technologies, designing, testing, and adapting equipment for smallholder agriculture. During his doctoral studies in Japan, he gained experience through internships at nuclear, hydro, solar, thermal, and wind power plants, enriching his understanding of power generation systems. In addition to his research roles, he has lectured part-time at institutions such as Bunda College and the Malawi University of Science & Technology (MUST). Dr. Kazembe Phiri is also recognized for his administrative leadership as Deputy Director at DARS and National Research Coordinator for soils & engineering commodities. Multilingual and quality-oriented, he is fluent in English and French, with conversational Japanese. Skilled in strategic supervision, he is considered a result-driven, self-starting engineer capable of leading and completing innovative energy and mechanization projects.