Africa based agri-tech startup, Hello Tractor has collaborated with Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA) to expand and connect over 5000 smallholder farmers to its mechanization services across Nigeria and Kenya. This partnership will increase the farmer’s access to mechanization services and youth employment opportunities. It also aims to create jobs for youths as tractor operators and booking agents.
Hello Tractor is a platform that connects tractor owners to farmers through an IoT-supported (Internet of Things) supported digital solution that links the gap between manual and mechanized farming. They partnered with IBM Research to bring new tools for farmers, which will allow them to request affordable tractor services. It will also provide enhanced security to tractor owners via remote and virtual asset and monitoring.
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The partnership with CTA was after Hello Tractor got a grant from them for ICT-enabled mechanization in Africa. They got the grant on the grounds that they will explore and implement initiatives that will aid the use of digital technologies for agricultural transformation in Africa.
CTA director Michael Hailu said, “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.”
Jehiel Oliver, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Hello Tractor, said “Through this collaboration, we will identify, train, and grow the number of youth serving as booking agents on serving farmers. This partnership will grow demand for tractor services through targeted digital initiatives aimed at better coordinating the market.”