The Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) reports that construction of a flagship center dedicated to promoting agricultural mechanization is now at an advanced stage, paving the way for domestic production of such equipment.
Overall construction is approximately 80% complete, with all major buildings finished. Remaining tasks include finishing works and equipment installation, though progress has been temporarily halted.
The center is being established as a regional model for modern agriculture through a Rwanda-India partnership, funded by a loan from India's Exim Bank. It forms part of the Export Targeted Irrigation (ETI) project, which encompasses the development of a demonstration hub for advanced agricultural machinery and equipment.
While building construction is nearly complete, equipment installation is only about 10% done. The facility is located in Kicukiro District, on the RAB site in Rubirizi.
RAB Acting Director General Dr. Florence Uwamahoro emphasized that the center will be pivotal in advancing modern agriculture and livestock production.
It will function as a hub for research on agricultural machinery, training for value-chain stakeholders, and testing and certification of equipment quality, services that will also extend to neighboring countries.
Once operational, the center will produce modern farming machines and assemble imported components locally. This will cover equipment for land preparation, weeding, planting, harvesting, and post-harvest handling, with significant portions of production and assembly conducted in Rwanda.
Dr. Uwamahoro noted that the facility will support mechanized agriculture tailored to Rwanda's terrain and farming conditions.
Machinery will be tested on local soils for suitability before distribution to farmers. The center will also conduct research-based evaluations, quality assurance testing, and potentially offer regional services.
During a site visit on Wednesday, members of Parliament's Committee on Budget and State Patrimony learned that construction stalled due to financial troubles faced by the original contractor, whose parent companies in India went bankrupt, leading to contract termination.
A new contractor must now be selected to complete the remaining works and install equipment. Per the Exim Bank financing agreement, contractors must be Indian, with the bank providing a shortlist of at least three candidates for Rwanda's selection.
Officials informed lawmakers that delays stemmed partly from slow procedures at Exim Bank, but a new shortlist is expected by February 2026, enabling work to resume. The remaining tasks are projected to take about 10 months, after which the center should become operational.
The facility will feature training buildings, research laboratories, exhibition spaces for agricultural machinery innovations, testing and evaluation units, assembly workshops, and quality control laboratories.
The project agreement was signed in 2013, with implementation starting in 2015. Rwanda began repaying the loan in 2020 on a semi-annual schedule. Concerns have been raised about repayments starting before the project yields benefits, given the extended delays.
Rwanda and India are holding ongoing discussions to expedite completion, ensuring the center can soon deliver its intended impact on agricultural modernization.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/inside-rwanda-s-project-to-produce-agricultural-machinery-locally
