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 Nuhu Hatibu - Chairperson

Professor Nuhu Hatibu, Executive Chairman, AfricAcademy – Arusha Science Ltd, is a renowned academic and transformative leader in agricultural mechanization and sustainable development in Africa. With over three decades of experience, he has consistently... Professor Nuhu Hatibu, Executive Chairman, AfricAcademy – Arusha Science Ltd, is a renowned academic and transformative leader in agricultural mechanization and sustainable development in Africa. With over three decades of experience, he has consistently championed the integration of science, technology, and innovation to modernize smallholder farming systems.

Professor Hatibu holds a distinguished academic background in agricultural engineering, with advanced degrees in soil and water engineering. He formerly served as a Professor and Principal at Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania, where he played a pivotal role in curriculum development, capacity building, and mentoring the next generation of agricultural engineers and researchers.

His leadership extended beyond academia into strategic roles, including his tenure as Regional Head for Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda at the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). In this capacity, he has led the design and implementation of large-scale programs that promote

mechanization, value chain integration, and agribusiness development. He has championed public-private partnerships and policy frameworks that enable access to mechanization services and appropriate technologies for millions of smallholder farmers.

Prof. Hatibu’s work exemplifies visionary leadership rooted in evidence- based solutions. His blend of scholarly expertise and practical impact has positioned him as a key voice in Africa’s agricultural transformation, driving innovations that link mechanization with food security, climate resilience, and rural prosperity.

Eng. Saidi Mkomwa - Technical Secretary

Saidi Mkomwa is a highly experienced agricultural engineer and advocate for conservation agriculture, serving as Executive Secretary and CEO of the African Conservation Tillage Network (ACT) since 2008. He also coordinates the AfricaMechanize platform,... Saidi Mkomwa is a highly experienced agricultural engineer and advocate for conservation agriculture, serving as Executive Secretary and CEO of the African Conservation Tillage Network (ACT) since 2008. He also coordinates the AfricaMechanize platform, which supports the implementation of the Framework for

Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization in Africa (FSAMA). Under his leadership, ACT has successfully managed numerous development initiatives across Western, Eastern, and Southern Africa, empowering smallholder farmers and agricultural enterprises through co-innovation, mechanization, and knowledge-sharing projects. Saidi frequently represents ACT and Africa in global forums and has chaired sessions focused on inclusive business models and precision agriculture, including at the FAO’s first Global Conference on Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization in 2023. Before joining ACT, he held the role of Principal Agricultural Engineering Researcher at Tanzania’s Ministry of Agriculture. He served in academic leadership as a tutor and deputy principal at the AgroMechanization and Farm Management Training Institute in Mlingano, Tanga. Saidi holds an MSc in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Guelph, Canada, and a BSc (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dar es Salaam. He has published widely in refereed journals, book chapters, and conference proceedings, and is a professional registered engineer deeply engaged in advancing sustainable agricultural mechanization across Africa.

Prof. Geoffrey Christopher Mrema - Advisor & Panellist

Geoffrey Mrema is a Professor of Agricultural Engineering at the Sokoine University of Agriculture in Morogoro, Tanzania. He also serves as a technical advisor to the African Conservation Tillage Network under the Africa-Mechanize Platform... Geoffrey Mrema is a Professor of Agricultural Engineering at the Sokoine University of Agriculture in Morogoro, Tanzania. He also serves as a technical advisor to the African Conservation Tillage Network under the Africa-Mechanize Platform Secretariat. He retired from the FAO in April 2011, where he had been working as the Director of the Rural Infrastructure and Agro-industries Division at its headquarters in Rome, Italy, from 2001 to 2011, with two years [2005-06] serving as the FAO Representative in Eastern and Southern Africa based in Harare, Zimbabwe. Before joining FAO in 2001, he had served as the first CEO of ASARECA [1995-2001]. During 2016/18 he served as a senior adviser to FAO and AUC on developing the Framework for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization in Africa [SAMA].

Panel of Experts

iSAMAP-Africa Panellists

Prof Nuhu Hatibu - Chairperson

Eng. Saidi Mkomwa - Technical Secretary

Prof. Geoffrey Christopher Mrema - Advisor & Panellist

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