Limited land consolidation, lack of access to tilling tractors on both hilly and flat land, few investors importing the equipment and   low number of farmers in cooperatives are still hampering the progress in embracing agricultural mechanisation.

The technology being the driver in increasing agricultural productivity was also found paramount during the COVID-19 lockdown where government intervened in tilling over 500 hectares for farmers free of charge during Season B because they delayed to cultivate after rains in Season A delayed.

According to Evariste Tugirinshuti, the president of Maize Farmers’ Cooperatives Federation, many smallholder farmers in Rwanda own small parcels of land and therefore can’t afford the cost to hire a tractor on their own.

"On average, a farmer owns less than one hectare and it can’t be affordable for taht farmer to hire a tilling machine. It requires many smallholder farmers to consolidate their land and work in cooperatives to hire a machine but poor mindset is also a challenge,” he said.

Figures from the Ministry of Agriculture show that 60 per cent of smallholder farmers have less than half a hectare and therefore lack of consolidating the small lands makes mechanisation unaffordable.

However, Ngirinshuti added that even farmers who wish to embrace mechanisation are often derailed by shortage of tilling tractors.

"Every season, many farmers who request tractors are impeded by their shortage,” he said.

The shortage of the machines, he explained, is caused by few investors in business related to mechanisation equipment.

He added that also there are no tilling machines that can till on hillside.

Despite the low penetration of mechanization, the technology has increased agricultural productivity for the users.

Alexis Nzeyimana, a farmer in Ngoma District in Eastern Province is currently using mechanisation on 62 hectares.

"Land consolidation is still an issue among smallholder farmers. Small scattered land makes mechanization unaffordable. Many small farmers are reluctant to work together therefore strong enforcement is needed on land consolidation,” he said.

The farmer said that while he used to pay Rwf200,000 to farmers using hoes, he currently pays Rwf50,000 for a tilling machine per hectare.

"My productivity has increased from between 3 and 4 tonnes of maize per hectare to over 7 tonnes,” he said.

Gov’t to introduce power tillers

Dr. Bucagu Charles, the Deputy Director General of Agriculture Research and Technology Transfer at Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) told The New Times that they are going to put more efforts in land consolidation and forming farmers’ cooperatives as well as importing power tillers to also work on hillsides.

A Power Tiller is a walking tractor widely used for rotary or revolving cultivation which is the best choice for small and marginal farmers. It will increase mechanization from the current 32 per cent to 75 per cent by 2024, he said.

"Power tillers can be used on a small scale land with terraces by using hands because they are not heavy. We are mulling over importing these and engage private sector in this business,” he said.

However, he the official explained that there are still challenges of spare parts for the machines that are not retailed locally and thus imported at a high cost.

"There are no retailers of spare parts since there are few tilling machines. We are still working on a mechanization centre of excellence in which spare parts can be stored. Shortage of drivers for these machines is also a big problem,” he said.

He explained that there are few investors in dealing tilling tractors since they are still expensive.

"One machine costs between Rwf16 million and Rwf20 million. We are working with banks to ease access to loans at lower interest rates to attract such business. And we can also provide subsidies to the imports,” he said.

He added that the high cost of machines also increases the cost of tilling which is between Rwf70,000 and Rwf100,000 per hectare.

Bucagu said that if smallholder farmers put themselves together and hired a tractor, it becomes affordable.

The government is currently subsidising farmers 18 per cent of the cost of mechanisation equipment and more incentives will be discussed.