Scaling inclusive mechanization through rural entrepreneurship and financial innovation

his solution track seeks to expand smallholder access to affordable mechanisation in Zambia through an entrepreneur-led Mechanization Service Provider model. The approach combines scale-appropriate machinery with tailored finance, risk-sharing, technical and business training, maintenance and repair services, enabling rural enterprises to offer mechanisation on a pay-per-use basis. Building on experience in Zimbabwe, where more than 500 service providers were established between 2022 and 2025 and served over 20,000 farmers, the model aims to establish 1,000 service providers in Zambia and support wider regional replication. The longer-term ambition is to provide mechanisation access to more than 100,000 smallholders, service 100,000 hectares and support 2,000 rural jobs while mobilising private and institutional investment.