DODOMA, Feb. 6 -- THE government has expressed commitment to expanding access to affordable mechanisation services closer to farming communities to boost productivity and phase out the hand hoe.

Deputy Minister for Agriculture, David Silinde expressed the commitment in the National Assembly on Wednesday while responding to a basic question from Momba MP Condester Sichalwe (CCM), who wanted to know whether the government intended to allocate tractors directly to individual farmers to accelerate agricultural transformation.

Mr Silinde said the government is committed to promoting mechanisation through service providers, ensuring that smallholder farmers can access tractors and other machinery without the burden of ownership costs.

He add...