Farmers to get tractors on credit

The Ministry of Agriculture plans to import tractors and other farming implements estimated to cost Rwf600 million which farmers will get on credit, at subsidised prices.The progamme will be driven by the Irrigation and Mechanisation Task Force, which is based in the ministry. Innocent Nzeyimana, the chairman of the Task Force, said yesterday that farmers will acquire the machines at a tax free cost. He said the government incurs transport costs which are not reflected in the final cost. “We intend to bring more 30 tractors in addition to the 81 we have so far bought since the programme started,” said Nzeyimana. “So far, 21 tractors have been bought by cooperatives and individual farmers at a relatively cheaper price”.To enable farmers acquire the tractors, government links them with the National Development Bank (BRD) which enables them get the tractors on agreed terms, according to Nzeyimana.He pointed out that, according to plans, every district will have a Village Mechanisation Centre (VMC) before end of this fiscal year.VMCs are workshops that government has set-up to enable small-scale farmers or those who may not afford subsidised machines to access agriculture services at the village level.In 2010, the government embarked on a programme to encourage farmers to shift from the subsistence farming and adopt the modern methods of farming which encompasses mechanisation so as to improve on their yields.This saw the setting up of a national mechanisation workshop in Jabana Sector, Gasabo District.This was after the government signed an agreement with TYN Tong Yang Moolsan, a South Korean company, to supply agricultural equipment to local farmers.Among others, an initiative to enable farmers own tractors at a subsidised price was initiated.Currently, the progamme is operational in Gastibo, Nyagatare, Kirehe, Rwamagana, Ngoma and Bugesera districts. Others are Nyanza, Ruhango, Rulindo, Musanze and Gasabo.The centres also offer maintenance services besides training farmers on how to operate and maintain tractors and other equipment.Charles Gahima, one of the farmers who bought the tractors, said it has greatly improved on his production.“Before buying this tractor, I used to cultivate a few hectares, but I now plant on more than 35 hectares of land, and on time,” said Gahima.He said that has not only increased on food production for his home, but family income as well.