Over 5,000 smallholder farmers and youth are set to benefit from an online-based tractor service meant to create more jobs and improve the agricultural sector
The newly launched mechanization services have been made possible through a partnership between Nigerian Agri-tech start-up Hello Tractor which aims at expanding its services to more countries in the region and the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation.
The new service will allow farmers to request for an affordable tractor service while promoting security to tractor owners by tracking and virtual monitoring.
The partnership comes after Hello Tractor was awarded a grant following a CTA call for proposals for ICT-enabled mechanization in Africa, which was issued to explore and implement initiatives to support the effective use of digital technologies for agricultural transformation in Africa.
“We are delighted to partner with Hello Tractor in expanding its innovative digital platform to reach a large number of users that will contribute not only to modernizing smallholder agriculture and increasing productivity but also to attracting young people to agribusiness in Africa,” said CTA director Michael Hailu.
Jehiel Oliver, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Hello Tractor, said the startup was excited to work with CTA to improve the delivery of mechanization services to smallholder farmers.
“Through this collaboration, we will identify, train, and grow the number of youths serving as booking agents on serving farmers. This partnership will grow demand for tractor service.
READ ALSO Kenya’s Over-Reliance on Maize Farming a Risk to Undernourishment