AGRA

• Competition runs until March 31, 2022, and is open to groups that have been operating in the agriculture sector for the last three years and whose members are aged between 18 and 35 years old.
• The winning plan will be awarded the John Deere tractor (50 horsepower, 5050D TWD) to start the business.

Nairobi, Kenya 1 March 2022 – The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), John Deere Africa Middle East, and Mascor have launched a business plan writing competition for youth SME groups in Kenya for a chance to win a tractor.

The competition runs until March 31, 2022 and is open to groups that have been operating in the agriculture sector for the last three years, and whose members are aged between 18 and 35 years old. 

Each participating group will be required to write a business plan for running and managing a mechanisation service provision business. The winning plan will be awarded the John Deere tractor (50 horsepower, 5050D TWD) to start the business.

John Macharia, AGRA’s Kenya Country Manager said the competition will offer youth in the country an opportunity to start a business with a catalysing tool for agricultural development.

“We are supporting youth groups in Kenya to build a business from mechanising farming operations. Whereas it is vital for development of agriculture in Africa, we have the least mechanised solutions compared to the rest of the world. This has been driven by lack of tractors and implements where and when needed,” added Macharia said.

Despite early gains, the uptake of tractors in the region has not kept pace with demand. In 1960, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania had more tractors in use than India but by 2005 India had 100 times more tractors in use.

“Access to finance is probably the biggest obstacle to African smallholder farmers interested in adopting mechanised farming solutions to boost productivity. The profits they typically earn are insufficient to purchase tractors directly or even access a financing facility,” added Mr Macharia.

Mascor, the John Deere dealer in Kenya, will support the competition winner with Aftermarket services, parts and more.

The joint competition follows a recent partnership between AGRA and John Deere to support successful mechanisation service providers based on the John Deere S.M.A.R.T Model. 

AGRA supports small and medium-sized enterprises in business skills and financial management for growth, whilst John Deere, through its dealer network offers support with training operators, technician development, after-sales services, and financing equipment through John Deere Financial.

How to enter

Business plans can be submitted here: https://agra.org/win-a-john-deere-tractor  

The full eligibility criteria, business plan format and terms and conditions can be found here: https://agra.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/John-Deere-Criteria-and-TsCs.pdf 

About:

John Deere

With a rich history of more than 140 years in South Africa, John Deere is a trusted, world-renowned leader in producing turf, agricultural, construction, and forestry machinery solutions with state-of-the-art precision technology. With its continued focus to strengthen its presence throughout the Africa Middle East region (“AME”), John Deere AME serves its customers through more than 218 dealer touchpoints across Africa Middle East and support its Dealer Network with a Regional Parts Distribution center in South Africa as well as sales and marketing offices in South Africa and Kenya.

Committed to delivering a distinctive customer experience coupled with solutions-driven advice from its authorised dealer network and John Deere Financial Solutions, John Deere AME promotes food security while actively driving a successful and inclusive agricultural community whilst supporting the growth of Africa via its construction and forestry solutions.

With core values of integrity, quality, commitment and innovation, John Deere AME remains dedicated to the success of its customers, to those who cultivate, harvest, transform, enrich and build upon the land to meet the world’s dramatically increasing need for food, clothes, shelter and infrastructure.

More information: https://www.deere.africa/en/ 

AGRA

Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led and Africa-based institution that puts smallholder farmers at the centre of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. Together with our partners, we catalyse and sustain an inclusive agricultural transformation to increase incomes and improve food security for 30 million farming households in 11 African countries by 2021.

More information: https://agra.org/ | Rebecca Weaver, rweaver@agra.org |

MASCOR

Mascor is one of Africa’s leading suppliers of Agricultural Equipment.

Mascor has an established dealer network in Kenya and Uganda with unrevoked technical capacity and parts stock to provide a distinctive customer experience.

We are committed to offering our clients, the most professional service, workmanship, high standards and quality products.
We believe in the importance of people and value creativity, innovation and enthusiasm.
We are proud to be an independent company committed to growth.
It is our goal to be recognised as the best in our field and more than that, to offer challenges and opportunities to all those dedicated to growing with us.

AT MASCOR, AFTER SALES SERVICE IS NOT A DEPARTMENT, IT IS A CULTURE IN EVERY DEPARTMENT.

We employ more than 495 staff members and believe in the power of positive people. The company is a proud member of the Plennegy Group of agricultural companies. 

With our feet planted firmly on the ground, Mascor continually strives to add value to the business of our customers and live true to our slogan of Operational Excellence.More information: https://www.mascorafrica.com/Kenya | www.facebook.com/Mascor.Kenya