KIGALI - In a bid to improve farmer’s efficiency and increase agricultural production, the Ministry of Agriculture has purchased heavy earthmoving machinery from Tym Tractors, a South Korean company, which will be hired to small and large scale farmers across the country.

The consignment includes 50 tractors, 250 power tillers, 2 bulldozers, one compactor, excavator and loader. The machines will also be hired to other users like land development contractors, dam construction firms as well as road and building developers.

According to the Chairman, Task Force on Irrigation & Mechanization, Jean Jacques Mbonigaba, nine tractors have already been hired to farmers in Kamonyi, Kirehe, Kayonza and Nyagatare District.

"Rwanda is a country of undulated topography, which makes agricultural production tedious because of difficult earth moving operations involved in land clearing,” Mbonigaba said in a statement.

"The heavy machinery will replace the use of manual labour and simple machines to clear and extend agricultural land as well as prepare and make it fit for sowing on a large scale.”

He added the availability of the machines will especially be helpful to small scale farmers who can hardly afford to extend their farmlands due to the expense involved in purchasing machinery.

"The machinery will be available on easy terms to both small and large scale farmers and other land developers, which will certainly multiply agricultural production in the country,” he said.

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