Volkswagen Electric Tractors for Rwanda

The GenFarm project will enable Rwandan farmers to benefit from Volkswagen electric tractors

The project, initiated by the German manufacturer, will allow among other things to rent electric tractors to Rwandan farmers. It will also provide access to an empowerment center that supplies energy to farmers. In addition to storage space and transportation services for goods and people. This rental and storage space called Empowerment Hub will be ready by 2025 and powered by solar panels

Why such a project?

The genesis of the project took place in Gashora, about 60 kilometers from the Rwandan capital, Kigali. It was in June 2023 that an agreement was reached between the manufacturer and the Rwandan government. For Martina Biene, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group Africa: “We are increasing our presence in Africa and consider Rwanda a key growth market. This project demonstrates our commitment to sustainable practices and highlights our ability to provide mobility solutions to rural communities.”

For Rwanda, this project seems obvious. The agricultural sector accounts for 25% of Rwanda’s GDP. Focusing on sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture appears to be a logical choice for Rwandans.

It is worth noting that the Rwandan Conservation Agriculture Institute (RICA) and the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) are directly collaborating on the project. It is the government of Paul Kagame that decided to provide the land that will serve as the basis for the GenFarm project.

In the era of capitalism and overconsumption, Volkswagen and Rwanda are committed to an ambitious project to meet current environmental needs. The ideal would be to extend this project to other African countries. And why not make agriculture more attractive to younger populations?

Also to read: Kubota KATR: an innovative agricultural robot awarded at CES