KIKUUBE, August 11, 2025 – Farmers under the Buhumuriro Tukorerehamwe Farmers’ Cooperative Society Limited in Kikuube district have received a major boost following the donation of a tractor worth over Shs 100 million, aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity.
The tractor was secured through lobbying efforts by Ripple Effect, a non-governmental organisation implementing the Agriculture and Market Support Project in the district. The initiative came after Ripple Effect observed that while the farmers were highly committed, they lacked access to mechanised farming equipment.
According to Josephat Friday, Chairperson of the cooperative based in Kiziranfumbi Sub-county, the cooperative was asked to contribute Shs 35 million as co-funding after meeting the required eligibility criteria. The cooperative, which evolved in 2024 from a local farmers’ group, now comprises 250 members engaged in the cultivation of crops including maize, beans, soybeans, groundnuts, sugarcane, and coffee.
Friday also noted that in 2024, the cooperative received a grant from Thrive, another NGO, which enabled them to construct a modern storage facility for bulking their produce.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Friday expressed gratitude for the donation, describing it as timely as farmers prepare for the upcoming planting season.
He highlighted that one of the biggest challenges faced by farmers in Kikuube is the lack of agricultural machinery, such as tractors, which has limited their ability to cultivate large tracts of land.
“Farmers own over 1,000 acres collectively, but due to reliance on hand hoes, we’ve only been able to cultivate about half of that,” he said. “With the arrival of this tractor, we can now bring more land under cultivation, thereby significantly boosting production.”
He further noted that while the tractor will primarily serve the cooperative, it will also be available for hire by other commercial farmers in the area, helping to raise additional income and promote wider community empowerment.
“Cultivating with hoes has been difficult, but with this tractor, we can finally utilise all our land and achieve the returns we’ve been aiming for. The surrounding communities will benefit too, as our goal is empowerment for all,” he added.
During the handover ceremony, John Ariguma, Commercial Officer for Kikuube Town Council, praised the cooperative for organising themselves, noting that such equipment would have been difficult to acquire individually.
He applauded Ripple Effect and the United Nations World Food Programme [WFP] for their support, acknowledging that the district has only a few tractors, which are often too costly for smallholder farmers to hire.
However, Ariguma urged the cooperative’s leadership to ensure the tractor is used transparently and not personalised, cautioning against mismanagement. He also raised concerns over the growing issue of vandalism affecting machinery provided to farmers across the district.
Ripple Effect’s Lutaaya, confirmed that the tractor was procured with a grant from WFP as part of a broader strategy to promote agricultural mechanisation, an essential component in scaling up commercial agricultural production.
“We are giving you this tractor to encourage the adoption of modern farming practices,” he said. “You are now transitioning from hand hoes to mechanised farming, use it wisely to increase food security and generate income.”
https://thecooperator.news/kikuube-women-appeal-for-tractors-to-boost-commercial-farming/
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