Technology

(Image credit: Power Factor Systems)

When it comes to practical farming technology built for African conditions, PFS Power Factor Systems has quietly been doing something rather impressive.

Since setting up shop in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga back in 1998, the company has grown into a trusted name across the continent, serving farmers in countries ranging from South Africa and Zambia to Kenya, Angola and beyond.

At the heart of what PFS offers is the VSD Starter, a variable speed drive designed and built entirely in-house and purpose-made for irrigation systems. It is not a generic piece of kit adapted for farm use. Every feature on this machine was thought through with the farmer in mind, from the automatic priming function to the gradual pipe filling sequence that protects pipelines from sudden pressure surges.

Dry pump protection and current limiting come as standard, meaning the system constantly keeps an eye on motor performance and shuts things down before any costly damage can occur. A safety switch input adds another layer of control, and can be connected to external devices like a GSM modem for remote operation or a float ball to manage dam levels automatically.

What really sets the VSD Starter apart is its flexibility. Seven programmable pressure settings mean farmers can deliver precisely the right pressure to different fields without relying on mechanical pressure regulating valves. Pair that with seven auto-irrigate programmes and you have the ability to run up to 49 scheduled irrigation cycles every week, all managed through a clean and intuitive touch screen interface.

Electricity costs are a very real concern for farmers across the region, and the VSD Starter addresses this head on. Running at 97% efficiency and drawing only the power needed to maintain the selected pressure, most users see a full payback within 9 to 14 months. The Eskom tariff control feature allows the pump to run exclusively during off-peak periods, cutting costs even further.

A tamper-proof event history log records every action with a time and date stamp, giving farmers complete visibility over their irrigation activity and making any troubleshooting straightforward.

Inchcape and NCBA collaborated to boost farm mechanisation in Kenya.(Image credit:

New Holland tractors are set to play a bigger role in transforming agriculture in Kenya following a new partnership between Inchcape and NCBA Group, one of East Africa’s leading financial institutions.

The collaboration focuses on making New Holland’s modern tractor range more accessible to farmers through a flexible and affordable financing solution designed around real farming needs.

The initiative enables farmers to acquire New Holland tractors with financing of up to 95 percent of the purchase value, making advanced machinery attainable for both small and large scale operations. Repayment periods can extend up to 60 months, with options structured to suit farming cash flows. Farmers can choose monthly or seasonal repayments aligned with harvest cycles, helping them manage costs without disrupting day to day operations. The financing package also includes cover for up to two farm implements, allowing farmers to fully utilise the capabilities of their New Holland equipment. To further support customers, each financed tractor comes with one year of free insurance through NCBA Bancassurance, offering reassurance throughout the loan term.

New Holland tractors are known for their durability, efficiency and suitability for a wide range of farming applications, from land preparation to harvesting support. By pairing these machines with tailored financial solutions, the partnership aims to improve farm productivity while reducing the operational strain often associated with equipment investment.

Marion Gathoga Mwangi, Managing Director of Inchcape Kenya, said, “Through this collaboration, we are not just offering financing; we are driving mechanisation, which remains a key pillar in increasing agricultural productivity and efficiency. When farmers have access to modern, reliable machines, their yields rise, their costs reduce, and their work becomes more rewarding.”

NCBA Group also emphasised the importance of aligning finance with the realities of farming. Lennox Mugambi, Group Director of NCBA Asset Finance and Business Solutions, added, “This partnership with Inchcape Kenya marks a major step in our mission. We aim to support farmers by providing accessible and flexible finance. By matching repayment schedules to the realities of farming, we remove barriers that have held back mechanization. We believe this will empower farmers to boost productivity and improve their livelihoods across Kenya.”

The programme brings Inchcape’s Accelerate+ strategy to life by combining high quality New Holland products with value added services such as financing and insurance. By improving access to trusted machinery, the initiative supports sustainable agricultural growth and creates long term benefits for farming communities across Kenya.

Africa steps up drive to transform farming through mechanisation. (Image credit: FAO)

Africa has taken a major step towards closing its long standing agricultural mechanization gap as leaders, experts and development partners gathered in Dar es Salaam for the Africa Conference on Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization.

The event opened with the launch of Tanzania’s National Agricultural Mechanization Strategy 2026 to 2036, signalling a renewed continent wide push to modernise farming systems.

The strategy was unveiled by the Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, Mwigulu L. Nchemba, alongside FAO Deputy Director General Beth Bechdol. The conference is organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and hosted by the Tanzanian government, bringing together governments, private sector players, researchers, youth groups and farmers to share ideas and scale up solutions that work for Africa.

Opening the conference, Prime Minister Nchemba stressed that mechanization is no longer optional for the continent. “Through action, we can change Africa’s agriculture to be a mechanized sector that is sustainable, for this generation and future generations.” He noted that the new ten year plan aligns with the FAO African Union Framework for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization in Africa and places women and young people at the centre of transformation.

FAO Deputy Director General Beth Bechdol said past approaches had failed because they focused on importing machinery without building the systems needed to support it. “Mechanization today cannot look like mechanization of the past. Shipping in large machines without financing, training, repair services, or local adaptation has not delivered lasting results. Africa does not need more equipment sitting idle. It needs systems that work,” she said. She added, “At FAO we see sustainable mechanization as a catalyst for transformation not as machines replacing people, but tools empowering people, reducing back breaking labour and creating space for women to farm more productively.”

African Union Commissioner Moses Vilakati highlighted the human dimension of the agenda, saying, “Our mechanization agenda is also a dignity agenda.”

Africa still relies heavily on manual and animal labour despite holding around half of the world’s uncultivated arable land. Crop yields remain well below global averages, even though agriculture supports the majority of livelihoods. Sustainable mechanization is seen as key to boosting productivity, creating skilled jobs and supporting climate smart farming.

FAO Regional Representative Abebe Haile Gabriel said, “Choosing a new direction that embraces mechanization, digitalization, scientific innovation and inclusive policies can fundamentally transform Africa’s agrifood landscape.”

The conference will also spotlight youth employment, digital tools such as machinery hire platforms and drones, and innovative financing, as FAO reaffirms its commitment to support African countries in building a modern and resilient agricultural future.

Understanding the shifting landscape of global agriculture.

Global agriculture continues to expand, yet the agricultural machinery market is navigating a period of turbulence.

Economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and shifting trade policies are reshaping where and how farm equipment is bought and sold. This evolving landscape was outlined during the press conference launching the 47th edition of EIMA International, the world’s leading exhibition for agricultural technologies, set to take place in Bologna from 10 to 14 November.

Mariateresa Maschio, FederUnacoma President, said, “Protectionist policies in some countries, economic sanctions, interference with trade routes, and tariff wars have led to market fragmentation and a sharp slowdown in trade which is weighing on the performance of the agromechanical sector.”

Traditional markets are feeling the strain. The United States recorded a 10 percent fall in tractor sales in 2025, while Germany, France and the United Kingdom also posted double digit declines. In contrast, southern Europe is showing renewed momentum. Italy and Spain both closed the year with strong growth, signalling cautious optimism within the European agricultural machinery industry.

India remains the standout performer. With tractor sales exceeding 1.1 million units, the country continues to dominate the global market. According to Maschio, this growth reflects deeper structural demand rather than a short term spike. “Over the past fifteen years, output in the primary sector has grown significantly,” said Mariateresa Maschio, “but to meet the needs of the world’s population it will have to grow by a further 14% by 2034, especially in India and in those countries of North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East that are experiencing the highest demographic growth.”

A new geography of agricultural production is emerging, driven by mechanisation, digital farming solutions and expanding demand in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Chinese manufacturers are rapidly increasing their presence across these regions and even gaining ground in Europe.

“In the coming years we will have a highly segmented agromechanical sector, with low-cost basic technologies alongside highly advanced technologies for complex operations,” added Mariateresa Maschio, underlining the importance of innovation, policy support and international cooperation as the sector looks ahead.