TOP STORY: Agricultural machinery assembling plant eyes Rwandan market

Using agricultural tractors would enable farmers in Rwanda to cultivate larger areas and grow more produce to meet subsistence and commercial demands Ugiran Limited Company, a Ugandan based firm that assembles tractors and agricultural machinery is set to open offices in Rwanda this year.

Tuesday, February 03, 2009
A Massey Ferguson tractor, the type that will soon be on the Rwandan market.

Using agricultural tractors would enable farmers in Rwanda to cultivate larger areas and grow more produce to meet subsistence and commercial demands

Ugiran Limited Company, a Ugandan based firm that assembles tractors and agricultural machinery is set to open offices in Rwanda this year.

The company assembles Massey Ferguson brands from Britain. Massey Ferguson is also a worldwide brand of AGCO Corporation that has deployed all the resources it needs to become a world-leader in harvesting technology.

According to information the Ugandan Ugiran Limited the machines are functional and a joy to drive, offering performance and features that will make any user proud to own one.

Speaking to The New Times early this week, Fred K. Mwesigye, the Chairman Ugiran Limited said that by mid this year, the company would open an office in Rwanda.

According to Mwesigye, the Rwanda office will serve the markets in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In its hunt for a regional presence, Ugrian has already opened offices in Kenya and is in the process of also opening up an office in Tanzania.

"The region has welcomed our idea and I have personally been to Rwanda and the enthusiasm was very great. Rwanda has already imported between 6-10 tractors so far,” he said.

"We are looking for a partner in Rwanda with a workshop to work with. We intend to open offices as soon as we receive the next consignment for Rwanda specifically,” he said. 

Using agricultural tractors he said would enable farmers in Rwanda to cultivate larger areas and grow more produce to meet subsistence and commercial demands. 

Mwesigye also applauded Rwanda’s efforts to modernize agriculture saying that this will boost agricultural production in the country.

"While in Rwanda I noticed that the country is revolutionizing and modernizing agriculture .For instance people have been organized in agricultural areas and most of the valleys have been opened up,” Mwesigye said.

"This is a unique practice that we have not yet achieved in Uganda. The land tenure system in Uganda is very difficult and complicated as it is owned by different groups in the country,” he added. 

According to Mwesigye, assembling the tractors in Uganda lowers the costs and renders agricultural tractors more affordable in the region.

The Massey Ferguson tractors are advanced machines featuring the best engines, transmissions and front linkage in the industry and a comfortable cab offering an incredibly low noise level.

Ugiran Limited Company, the only assembling plant in East Africa, is a joint venture between National Enterprise Company (NEC), a Ugandan firm and Iran Tractor Corporation Company (ITMCO) from Iran.

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