Heifer International provided this equipment through the 'Mechanization for Africa Initiative,' a project that offers agricultural machinery on a loan payment plan. This initiative has been operational in three African countries since 2022, and Rwanda becomes the fourth, following Uganda, Kenya, and Nigeria.
The handover event was officiated by the State Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Eric Rwigamba, who expressed that the project is expected to accelerate agriculture in Rwanda.
He said, "It will help farmers cultivate faster and on time, enabling them to achieve higher yields. When you look at a farmer cultivating 10 or five hectares, they can hire manual labor, but often the delay causes them to miss the rainy season."
In the next phase, an additional 15 tractors will be distributed to help farmers cultivate larger areas in a shorter time, increasing both the quantity and value of the yield.
Heifer International's Vice President for Africa, Adesuwa Ifedi, stated that the organization is pleased to launch this program to uplift Rwandan farmers and noted that in other parts of Africa where it operates, the initiative has already advanced the level of local farming.
She said, "It helps farmers cultivate larger areas, which translates into higher income. We are pleased that, over the last two years, this program has improved agriculture in other countries. For instance, one testimony we received here was from a farmer who increased his cultivation from one hectare to five hectares thanks to the machine."
Heifer International's Director in Rwanda, Verena Ruzibuka, mentioned that the project will also create job opportunities for the youth across the country by connecting them with farmers who need these services.
However, Ruzibuka urged more partners to join the initiative to assist more farmers in accessing these loans.
She said, "We've provided the initial funding for the project, but we encourage financial institutions to explore how they can also get involved. We've seen interest from other donors, but we invite more partners to join us on this journey to help provide mechanization for more farmers."
Modus operandi
Heifer International will provide the tractors in collaboration with a company called Hello Tractor, which connects the owners with farmers in need. A farmer who requires the tractor must cultivate at least 500 hectares annually, and cooperatives must have 500 hectares under cultivation.
Farmers are required to make an initial payment of 5% of the machine's cost and sign a contract with Hello Tractor, which outlines the terms and conditions of collaboration. They typically pay for three to five years; after which they own them outright. Those who meet the criteria can register on the Hello Tractor website, undergo an assessment, and be connected with the providers.
A facility for machine maintenance will soon be built in Kayonza District in the Eastern Province.
Each tractor provided has a value ranging from Rwf45million to Rwf50 million. They come with large plows that can cultivate, harvest, and perform other functions depending on the farmer's needs.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/business/article/heifer-supports-rwandan-farmers-with-15-tractors
