Call for Application for John Deer Tractor

Across Africa, and in Rwanda in particular, agriculture constitute the backbone of every economy and has an undeniable contribution to country’s GDPs. Throughout the years, a diverse range of
technologies were adapted to increase not only the productivity but also the quality of the produce, among which agriculture mechanization is of great importance.  Agricultural mechanization is vital for the development of African Agriculture, but it will not succeed if investments into agricultural mechanization remain independent and uncoordinated between actors in the public and private sectors. The challenges in enhancing the prevalence and uptake of mechanization are the following:

• Lack of tractors and implements where and when they are needed.
• Lack of contractors who are operating farm mechanization businesses accessible to smallholder farmers.
• Lack of maintenance and spare parts centers in the rural areas.
• Agricultural Mechanization Stations and Agriculture Technology Development Centre’s are not set up to service the primary production of smallholder farmers.

The contractor model allows smallholder farmers (if organized) to solve the problem of access to mechanization equipment but also provides the potential for them to evolve into fully-fledged micro enterprises, which can provide employment and add impetus to the economies of rural regions of Africa.

It against the above background that The Ministry of youth and Culture in partnership with AGRA, call for proposals of young people interested in agriculture mechanization to increase productivity to apply for John Deer Tractor, in a bid to contribute to the solution of the above-mentioned challenges.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Youth who are in groups in Rwanda

Eligible youth groups are only those that are domiciled in the Republic of Rwanda. They must be registered according to the relevant laws of Rwanda, either as a company of a cooperative, by the relevant authorities in Rwanda and have a valid registration certificate with a verifiable membership list. At-least 80% of their members must be between the ages of 18 and 30 years.

2. Agriculture focused

The youth group should have agriculture as their core functionality. A minimum 80% of their operations
should be focused an agriculture venture along the value chain.

3. Up to 2 years of operations

The competition is designed to foster youth entrepreneurs; as a result, younger groups or start up
groups having operated for less than 2 years are not eligible. Ideal groups for the competition will
have been in operation for more than 2 years. This are the ones that are not merely ideas, but ones that are already operating as functioning groups with clear income streams and support structures. While the groups do not need to be cash flow positive, the group is required to have revenues to be eligible.

For further clarification, please contact Mr. Hakundimana Jean Paul via phone: 0788333425 or email: jhakundimana@myculture.gov.rw.