Koskei seals Sh7bn Brazil tractor deal

Kenya has struck a Sh7 billion deal with Brazil to mechanise agriculture.

The deal signed under the More Food for Africa programme would enable Kenya to acquire agricultural machinery from the South American country beginning September.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei, who signed the agreement on behalf of the government last week, said Kenyan farmers would access assorted tractors and equipment through low interest rate credits.

That would improve small scale farming and nutrition of vulnerable population, according to the Cabinet Secretary.

READ: Brazil approves Sh7bn loan for sugarcane farmer tractors

So far, Kenya 6,000 tractors, a number too few for all farmers hence others have to lease the machinery from other sources at high costs, he said.

Farmers pay up to Sh3,000 for a tractor to plough an acre.

Mr Koskei said the government aimed at increasing tractors to 11,000 by 2017.

The machinery would be kept under counties and hired out to farmers at lower rates than what private firms charge, he said.