How is Rwanda transforming its agriculture thanks to mechanization. Lessons from Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) By Alain NZEYIMANA Agricultural Mechanization Specialist Ag. Mechanization Program Leader

1. HOW IS RWANDA TRANSFORMING ITS
AGRICULTURE THANKS TO MECHANIZATION
Lessons from Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board
(RAB)
By Alain NZEYIMANA
Agricultural Mechanization Specialist
Ag. Mechanization Program Leader

2. Background
oStarted in February 2010
o Mid-2011, adopted to set up Village Mechanization Service Centers
(VMSCs) as a mechanization extension approach.
oVMSCs act as promoters of modern agricultural practices through
hiring and selling system and extension services. Gradually, it was
expected that the private sector will be interested and start to run
this business.
o2013, private sector involvement in mechanization service provision
started
o2018; 12 service providers (farm machinery hire and sale)

3. Background
• Initially, this program started with 81 tractors, 250 power tillers, 35
rice planters, two combine harvesters, a mobile workshop and a good
number of implements( plows, mould boards, harrows/rotavators,
planters, trailers, water pumps and sprayers)were acquired and sold
to farmers, individuals, and cooperatives.
• Also five heavy earth moving machines (Bulldozer, loaders, excavator
and compactor) were also acquired to support in irrigation, mainly for
digging dams.
• More than 155 tractors were brought into the country by private
operators.

4. Different machines bought by the government

5. 30 units of Mahidra tractors bought in 2013

6. On of Combine harvesters bought in 2013

7. Policy focus 1:
• Promoting and strengthening a private sector led agricultural
mechanization service delivery, and marketing services
through the following actions:
Support in establishing farm machinery hiring
centres
Support in mobilization of farmers and cooperatives
Providing a conducive environment for local
assembly of machinery and equipment through tax
cuts and incentives to investors
Linking the service providers with financial
institutions

8. Policy Focus 2:
• Promoting agricultural mechanization research and technology
development for efficiency and effectiveness through the following
actions:
Establishing a Centre of Excellence for farm Mechanization
Supporting and Carrying out on farm demonstrations of suitable
machinery
Testing and certification of suitable machinery
Enforcing standards for machinery in collaboration with Rwanda
Standards Board (RSB)
Certification of locally manufactured agriculture machinery in
collaboration with RSB

9. Policy Focus 3:
• Promotion of investment and financing in the mechanisation through
the following actions:
Promotion of Public Private Partnership (PPPs) to
render Mechanization services across different
Value Chains
Enable an environment for a private sector led
mechanization development through access to
credit facilities and favourable laws

10. Policy Focus 4:
• Development of human capacity in the mechanisation sector through
the following actions:
Inclusion of mechanisation curricula in Technical and
vocational Education and training (TVET) Institutions.
Demonstration of on farm machinery and practices.
Networking with regional and international
organisations involved with agriculture mechanisation

11. Success stories and achievements
Activity Achievements/progress
Land preparation Over 40,000 Ha across the country
Monitoring, advising and
implementing appropriate
farm mechanization options
for farmers
25% of farm operations mechanized
(land preparation, planting, crop treatment, harvesting, prost harvesting and
agro-processing)
Strengthen capacity building - Over 2000 farmers, 60 agronomists, 200 tractor operators
Promotion of entrepreneurial
& private investments in
mechanization
Private companies in selling system:
 ETC Agro, LONAGRO, S.G.E.C, TRIOMP RWANDA, JCB
Private companies in hiring system:
 SBTC PVT ltd, AGRIMECH, KNU Agri-Mechanized Services, RMF, AGRESSOL,
NAGRICO, MUVUMBA P8, MUKUNGURI, TRIOMP RWANDA

12. Training of agronomist on two wheel drive tractor

13. Trainings of
farmers and
agronomists

14. Village Mechanization Service Centers (VMSCs)
He is
performing
second
tillage
She is
performing
first tillage with
support of
instructor

15. Centre of Excellence for Farm Mechanization
1.Machine Display
2.Prototype Manufacturing Unit
3.Development Assembly Unit
4.Machine shop
5.Foundry
6.Ergonomics, Electrical & Electronics LAB
7.Quality Testing LAB & Irrigation LAB
8.Alternate Energy LAB
9.Agro Processing Unit
10.Farm Machinery Testing Unit
11.Repair Work Shop
Center of Excellence for
Farm
Mechanization (CoE)
Capacity
Building
Certification of
agricultural
machinery
Up grading and
Manufacturers
assistance
Extension
awareness
Research &
Development
Testing and
Quality Control
Standards

16. Layout Plan for Center of excellence on farm
machinery

17. Challenges
• The low purchasing power of most small-scale farmers;
• High repair and maintenance (R&M) cost due to the availability
of spare part on local market;
• Inappropriate machinery for pre-and postharvest handling,
primary processing and value-addition in agriculture sector;
• Technical and financial capacity of local manufacturers is
limited;
• Poor infrastructure that can’t allow use of farm machinery
easily
• Lack of qualified technicians in agricultural mechanization;

18. Solutions and way forward
• The low purchasing power of most small-scale farmers;
BRD is providing loans with a small interest.
Tax exemption on agricultural equipment.
Tax exemption on hiring services.
• High repair and maintenance (R&M) cost due to the availability of spare part on local
market;
More companies are starting this business so that we expect to get spare parts at
low prices.
Also spare parts are exempted from the tax (VAT).
• Inappropriate machinery for pre-and postharvest handling, primary processing and
value-addition in agriculture sector;
We are establishing a center of excellence which has a R&D department for
producing appropriate prototypes machineries.
We are working with CIMMYT on capacity building of our local manufacturers in
order to increase their knowledge on manufacturing appropriate machines
especially in post-harvest.

19. Solutions and way forward
• Technical and financial capacity of local manufacturers is limited;
BRD is providing loans with a small interest.
We are working with CIMMYT on capacity building of our local manufacturers
in order to increase their knowledge on manufacturing appropriate machines
especially in post-harvest.
• Poor infrastructure that can’t allow use of farm machinery easily
The government is emphasizing on land consolidation.
Currently, new infrastructures are developed considering mechanization
activities.
• Lack of qualified technicians in agricultural mechanization;
We have partnership with different technical institutions (IPRSs) in order to
train technicians.
We have also a partnership with different countries such as Japan, South
Korea, China, etc… in order to train our engineers.

20. Thank you