MINISTRY OF LANDS, AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES, WATER AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
THE DIRECTORATE OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING, MECHANISATION AND FARM INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
VISION
A leader in the provision of appropriate agricultural engineering and related technical services to stakeholders in the agricultural sector
MISSION
The Department of Agricultural Engineering, Mechanisation and Soil Conservation endeavors to meet the engineering needs of its different farmer clientele timeously and at the highest possible level of the professional quality, effectiveness, efficiency and accountability.
PHILOSOPHY
Delivery of Engineering and technical services based on the importance of exchange of ideas, skills and knowledge between the farmers and technical staff; thereby empowering the farmers to make decisions that affect their well being
The Department's Heads
The Chief Director
Eng E. S. Zimunga.
Director: Division of Agricultural Engineering and Mechanisation
Director :Division of Soil Conservation
Engineer Rukuni
Engineer M. Munyati
FUNCTIONS
AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING AND MECHANISATION
Farm infrastructure
Cattle spray races
Cattle spray races
This is a structure used for tick control. Its main principle of operation is showering of animals with an acaricide rather than immersion. Animals walk through a confined area (race) where a pipe system with many nozzles (usually 20 – 30) are fitted at certain intervals and at particular angles.
How to use spray race?
A spray dip is a dip where cattle move through a passageway equipped with sprayers that apply the dip. Sprayers are arranged to thoroughly drench the animal. The dip then runs off and is collected in a pit, from where it is filtered and pumped through the sprayers again.
Advantages of a spray race’
- It is faster and can spray more animals per hour than a plunge dip.
- Suitable for pregnant, heavy, young, goat, sheep and sick animals as they do not get shock.
- Fresh wash every spraying time.
- It is economical.
- It is less laborious.
- No poisoning of animals due to swallowing of the acaricide
- Small volume of dip required to operate spray race, thus feasible to prepare fresh dip at every dipping;
- Cattle can be dipped as often as required at minimum cost, using minimum labor, for maximum results;
- Type of dip can be changed at will from one dipping to the next.
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Where to get them
Department of Agriculture Engineering Mechanisation and Farm Infrastructure Division under the Farm Infrastructure Division. ( Institute of Agricultural Engineering)
Farm Road
Farm road links agricultural farmland areas to national highways and other roads primarily to enable the transportation of inputs to the farm and agricultural produce to the market.
Advantages of farm roads
• Improved farm roads create the conditions for better access of farmers to services, and of services to the farmers.
• Roads open up more areas and stimulate economic and social development.
• Farm roads provide cheaper access to both markets for agricultural output and for modern inputs.
Where to get the services
• Department of Agriculture Engineering Mechanisation and Farm Infrastructure Division under the Farm Infrastructure Division.
• Institute of Agricultural Engineering
Farm Power
Agricultural Mechanisation
The mechanisation of Pfumvudza will receive priority with a target to procure 600 two-wheel tractors, 600 direct planters, 600 multi crop threshers and 600 trailers to enhance efficiency and productivity.
Pfumvudza using the Auger machine
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The Two wheel tractor
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Planters for two- wheel tractors
DIVISIONS
- 1. Institute of Agricultural Engineering
- 2. Agricultural Mechanisation
- 3. Postharvest and Agro-Processing Technologies
- 4. Soil Conservation
- 5. Farm Structures and Infrastructure
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING AND MECHANISATION
- 1. Production and implementation of a comprehensive strategy policy on the mechanization of agricultural production activities
- 2. Planning for the establishment , maintenance and supervision of an effective, efficient and viable tillage programme for the agricultural sector.
DEPARTMENT OF SOIL ENGINEERING & FARM INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
- 1. Planning, designing and construction of small dams and weirs
- 2. Planning, designing and construction of an extensive network of mechanical conservation works on both arable and range lands
- 3. Adoption and adapting promising appropriate agricultural engineering technologies from elsewhere in the region and internally for use by farmers
- 4. Conduct residence and non residence competence based skills training to departmental staff, farmers and other stakeholders in agricultural engineering
- 5. Provision of engineering services and technology to the farming community in produce processing, conservation and storage
- 6. Research, testing and development of agricultural machinery and equipment
- 7. Development of extension materials on agricultural engineering related disciplines
- 8. Research and development in soil and water engineering resulting in technologies for application in conservation tillage techniques.
DEPARTMENTAL PROGRAMS
Agricultural Engineering and Mechanisation
We currently are operating a number of Mechanisation facilitie These are:- 1. Belarus mechanisation facility - Tractors , Combine Harvesters, Disc Harrows and Trucks
- 2. John Deere mechanisation facility - Tractors, Combine Harvesters and mechanical planters
- 3. Bain New Holland mechanisation facility – Tractors
- 4. Local Manufacture facility – Boom sprayers, Disc Harrows, Disc ploughs
- 5. Smallholder mechanization facility – two wheel tractor, direct seeder, trailer, multicrop thresher and tool bar
Soil conservation
Post-harvest and Agro-processing
- 1. Village grain reserve – Zunde Ramambo
- 2. Post harvest processing centers
- 3.Zimbabwe Emergency Food Production Facility(ZEFPF)
Farm Infrastructure Development
- 1.Farm infrastructure designs and construction
- 2.Off-grid Solar programme
Research and Development
- 1.Reverse engineering
- 2. Machinery testing
Current Affairs
21 Graduated on a 2 week training on Land Preparation and Tillage Planting and Seeding, Chemigation and Fumigation, Tractor drawn harvesting, field Transportation Services and Farm Utility Operations on 19 July 2024
Success Stories
The department of Mechanisation Mashonaland West: Awarded 2024 2nd prize Tobacco Expo.Â
Contact details
Chief Director
Engineer E.S Zimunga
Ngungunyana building
No.1 Liberation Legacy Road
P. O Box CY 639
Causeway,
Harare
+263-242-794603-7
E-mail:
Integrity, Professionalism, Teamwork and Commitment, Responsiveness and Innovativeness.
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