Nyagatare: Heifer International Launches Hub to Boost Smart Farming in Rwanda

Expansion of Smart Farming Solutions in Rwanda

Heifer International Rwanda, in collaboration with Hello Tractor and the Government of Rwanda, recently launched a second mechanisation hub in Nyagatare District. This initiative marks an expansion of access to smart farming solutions for smallholder farmers, following the successful launch of the first hub in Kayonza District in November last year. The Nyagatare hub, established under Heifer’s Rwanda Dairy Market Systems (RDMS) project, is designed to improve smallholder farmers’ access to affordable mechanisation services.

The hub offers modern tractors, operator training, and a Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) model that allows farmers—especially youth—to acquire tractors with a 5 per cent down payment, with the balance repayable over five years from service income. The launch event brought together government officials, partners, and farmers, featuring live tractor demonstrations, equipment handovers, and farmer testimonials highlighting the benefits of mechanisation.

Verena Ruzibuka, Country Director of Heifer International Rwanda, noted that since the project’s launch during agricultural seasons A and B, it has already recorded significant success. Through catalytic financing and the deployment of 15 tractors, the project has supported over 6,000 farmers and cultivated more than 3,000 hectares. “It is designed to address persistent challenges such as limited access to modern equipment, high labour demands, and low productivity, while promoting sustainable and climate-smart farming practices,” she said.

Ruzibuka emphasized that Heifer’s financing has improved access and availability of mechanisation services over the past seven months, proving strong demand and impact. “Through this expansion in Nyagatare, we are moving closer to our vision of ensuring every district in Rwanda has access to affordable and reliable mechanisation services. These hubs are not only about tractors, but also about creating a new generation of rural entrepreneurs—from operators and booking agents to technicians—who can transform agriculture into a thriving business sector,” she added.

Enhancing Productivity and Income

The Nyagatare mechanisation hub will provide modern tractors and implements to help farmers cultivate larger areas more efficiently, reduce reliance on manual labour, and boost productivity and incomes. It will also serve as a training and service centre for operators, booking agents, and technicians, while integrating Hello Tractor’s digital platform for transparent and convenient service access.

Stephen Gasana, Mayor of Nyagatare, highlighted the importance of the initiative. He explained that 59.3 per cent of district residents are crop farmers while 39.2 per cent are cattle keepers, both groups requiring these services. In the 2024/25 agricultural season, 83,190 hectares of land were cultivated, producing 261,640 tonnes of selected crops. However, only 7,654 hectares were cultivated using tractors. “This limited mechanisation negatively impacted yields due to challenges such as incomplete land cultivation and delays in farming activities,” he said.

Folu Okunade, Chief Operating Officer of Hello Tractor, stressed the scale of the challenge across Africa. “Africa needs five million tractors to close the mechanisation gap. This represents a $122 billion opportunity that must be addressed. In Rwanda specifically, there are only 250 active tractors currently on the market,” he said. “The country actually needs 26,000 tractors to close that gap and reach the global average, fully servicing its arable land. That represents a $700 million opportunity for Rwanda. We know there are challenges, but we are excited to help tackle them.”

Government Support and Vision

While officiating the launch, Telesphore Ndabamenye, Minister of State for Agriculture and Animal Resources, said mechanisation is central to Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation. “This launch comes at a time when our country is implementing the National Strategy for Transformation of Agriculture (PSTA 5), which seeks to advance the sector over the next five years. This strategy emphasizes agricultural modernisation and the use of environmentally friendly technologies. In particular, mechanisation plays a critical role in reducing reliance on traditional, labour-intensive methods, enabling timely cultivation of larger plots, increasing productivity, and creating rural jobs—all of which directly raise farmers’ incomes.”

Ndabamenye added, “By establishing hubs like this, we are putting into practice one of the pillars of PSTA 5, which leverages modern technology and innovation to make agriculture inclusive and transformative.” He encouraged the youth in this district and beyond to take part in this programme, because it is a great opportunity.

Success Stories from the First Hub

Olivier Niyitegeka, a farmer from Kamate Village, Karangazi Sector in Nyagatare District, explained that using a tractor for cultivation is very different from relying on manual labour. In the last agricultural season, he cultivated one hectare with a tractor and harvested approximately 7.7 tonnes, compared to his neighbour who cultivated two hectares manually and harvested only nine tonnes. “We pay only Rwf 85,000 per hectare, which is affordable. When we use a tractor, the soil absorbs water more easily, unlike with manual cultivation, which leaves crops vulnerable to drying when the weather is too hot. That’s what affected my neighbour’s crops. Tractors are efficient and save time,” he said.

Jackson Rutayisire, a dedicated livestock farmer, shared a similar experience. Before connecting with Hello Tractor, he relied on manual labour and traditional tools to cultivate three hectares of Napier grass and two hectares of maize. Meeting the nutritional needs of his eight cows was a constant struggle, especially during dry seasons when fodder shortages were severe. With access to reliable and timely tractor services, Rutayisire expanded his herd from eight to ten cows. “My daily milk yield rose from 120 to 170 litres, increasing my daily income from Rwf 48,000 to Rwf 68,000—a 41.7 per cent increase in productivity and a 74.1 per cent improvement in cost-benefit ratio. Even during dry spells, efficient fodder production has helped me maintain milk output and income, making my farm more resilient, profitable, and scalable,” he said.