New tractor to improve yields four-fold

The ballooning world population means farmers will have to grow as much food as they have over the full course of recorded history. In a bid to help farmers meet the growing demand, FMD East Africa in partnership with global agriculture equipment manufacturer AGCO Corporation has unveiled new Massey Ferguson tractors.

The new Massey Ferguson tractors MF-35 and MF 4708 launched at FMD East Africa Regional offices in Nakuru on Thursday not only offers a new opportunity to smallholder farming sector to mechanise agriculture but also promises increased production.

The MF 35 dubbed the ‘People’s tractor’ is set to push farm mechanisation to a new generation of farmers, farm workers and entrepreneurs. According to AGCO director of operations Africa and Middle East Nuradin Osman the MF 35 tractor will enable farmers improve yields from 1.4 tonnes per hectare to 5.2 tonnes per hectare.

“Almost 60 per cent of the world’s uncultivated arable land is in Africa where there is sub-optimal yield for most crops. We are working hard to ensure small holder families participate and benefit from mechanisation,” Osman notes.

Osman adds that the MF 35 tractor will attract new generation of farmers and help reduce growing unemployment facing millions of young people in Africa.

Modern farming

Vice president and managing director, Massey Ferguson Europe, Africa and Middle East Richard Markwell praised the MF 35 and notes the MF 35 tractor will help advance emerging farm enterprises in the country.

“Estimates put the total number of smallholder farmers in Kenya at around eight million. The MF 35 is a significant new opportunity for the sector of the marketing where draught animal power or hand cultivation is the most use system of work on the land,” Markwell says.

He notes that the MF 35 is flexible and can be used across a wide range of farm sectors like horticulture, flower, tea and coffee production.

Markwell adds that through the partnership with FMD East Africa spanning 57 years, Massey Ferguson has sold over 11,500 tractors in Kenya.

To attract farmers, FMD East Africa also unveiled a finance package with Equity Bank to help farmers obtain flexible financial assistance to purchase the tractors and other farm implements.

Equity Bank chief operating officer Julius Kipng’etich says the bank will provide 80 per cent financing while farmers will contribute 20 per cent to acquire the tractors.

Kipng’etich also challenged FMD East Africa and AGCO to introduce dryers and storage equipment to farmers in the region to help end food poisoning occasioned by poor storage and reduce post-harvest losses.

He notes that the bank presence in the region through its network of agriculture support officers will also help in distribution and financing of Massey Ferguson tractors.

“We have a rich balance sheet of Sh300 billion and through this deal farmers will give us 20 per cent and the bank finances 80 per cent,” he added.

Fergus Robley managing director FMD East Africa welcomed the launch of MF 35 saying the new tractor will help farmers modernise farming and increase yields.