March 06, 2025 –
At this year’s Fruit Logistica trade fair in Berlin, Tullah Mloge of the SAGCOT Centre sat down with Frank Nordmann of GRIMME Landmaschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG to discuss the German company’s transformative role in Tanzania’s potato industry.
The trade fair, held from February 5 to 7, 2025, provided a global platform for innovation in the fresh produce sector. Over the past decade, Grimme’s partnership in Tanzania has grown into a remarkable success story, with potatoes now ranking as the country’s third most important crop for food security, following maize and rice.
A Decade of Progress
“Ten years ago, we started the potato project with Grimme,” Mloge noted, emphasizing the collaboration’s impact.
As a global leader in agricultural machinery, Grimme has played a pivotal role in mechanizing Tanzania’s potato sector. Nordmann, representing Grimme, expressed pride in the partnership, welcoming Mloge to their booth at Fruit Logistica, one of the world’s premier fresh produce industry events.
Over the years, Grimme’s efforts have evolved significantly. Initially, the main challenge was who would manage and maintain the equipment? That question was answered through a successful collaboration with Kibaigwa, a Tanzanian agricultural enterprise now equipped with a full suite of Grimme machinery—covering soil preparation, planting, cultivation, topping, and harvesting.
Mechanization Milestone with Kibaigwa
Nordmann highlighted Kibaigwa’s critical role in Grimme’s Tanzanian operations:
“We equipped Kibaigwa with a full set of equipment for the entire potato value chain,” he said.
The impact has been extraordinary:
✅ Over 1,000 potato farmers have rented Grimme’s equipment.
✅ Yields have more than doubled, thanks to improved mechanization.
✅ Farmers are now exploring ways to acquire their own fleets, further increasing productivity.
“It’s a successful story so far,” Nordmann noted, emphasizing the growing demand for advanced agricultural machinery.
Small Machines, Big Impact
Looking ahead, Grimme is adapting its mechanization strategy to better serve Tanzania’s smallholder farmers.
🚀 Exciting news:
Grimme’s India subsidiary is now manufacturing smaller, more affordable machines, designed specifically for small-scale producers.
“This is the next step for us—to bring mechanization to smallholder farmers in the potato sector,” Nordmann explained.
Mloge welcomed this move, linking it to broader trends in Tanzania’s agricultural development. She also pointed to the newly established Potato Council of Tanzania, which brings together key players in the potato value chain.
📢 Industry standard:
Farmers believe that a Potato Council member should have at least 10 acres of potatoes—a clear indicator that mechanization is becoming essential.
A Vision for the Future
The discussion reinforced a shared optimism about the future of Tanzania’s potato industry.
Mloge cited mechanization’s success in Mbarali’s rice sector, where farmers now use machinery from land preparation to harvesting. She envisions a similar transformation for potatoes:
“I’m sure it will be possible for potatoes because now the farmers have the purchasing power,” she said.
As the interview wrapped up, Mloge and Nordmann reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their collaboration.
“Thank you very much, Tullah,” Nordmann said.
“I hope we are going to make this happen.”
Why This Matters
✅ Grimme’s mechanization solutions are transforming Tanzania’s agriculture.
✅ Potatoes are solidifying their status as a key food security crop.
✅ New machinery for smallholder farmers could accelerate sustainable growth in the sector.
With innovative solutions on the horizon, this partnership could become a model for sustainable agricultural development