Kenyan farmers can now breathe a sigh of relief as farm work is set to become easier, faster and less labour-intensive with new access to Kubota tractors that can handle everything from ploughing and planting to spraying and transporting produce.
The tractors will enable farmers to cultivate more land in less time while reducing the physical burden of manual farm work. Through a new financing arrangement between Equity and Car & General, the machines are also being made more accessible to farmers.
Car & General Manager George Rubiri said the financing is designed to give farmers an easier path to mechanisation, while allowing them to repay in line with their farming cycles.
“Equity comes in to finance our product at very affordable rates and is giving farmers very flexible repayment. It could be monthly, it could be seasonal, depending on the farmer’s harvesting season,” Rubiri said.
Equity Bank’S tractor loans for Kenyan farmers
Under the arrangement, Equity will finance up to 90% of the cost of a Kubota tractor, leaving farmers to raise a 10% deposit. Repayment can extend for up to five years, with payments structured around the crop cycle.
The package also comes with free insurance for the first year, a two-year extended warranty and a TVS motorbike for every tractor purchased. For subsequent years, farmers can access negotiated insurance premiums of up to 1.5%.
During August, farmers purchasing the tractors will also receive a GPS acreage calculator to help them determine how much land they can cultivate.
Equity Bank Head of Asset Finance Beatrice Nyambura said the financing has been structured with the realities of farming in mind.
“We’ve structured the repayment in such a way that we acknowledge the seasonality of farming. The farmer can pay depending on their crop. We can also do it in a season. Some can even go up to a year, depending on the cycle of the crop,” she said.
Kubota tractors
The tractors, which start from 23 horsepower, can support activities including ploughing, spraying and transportation, while compatible implements enable minimum and zero tillage practices that support climate-smart agriculture.
Equity Bank Head of Food and Agriculture Business George Macharia said improved access to mechanisation can help farmers increase productivity and incomes while creating opportunities for young people to earn from providing tractor services to other farmers.
The impact is already evident for farmer and agricultural teacher Cecilia Moshiri, who bought a Kubota tractor two years ago. She said the machine transformed previously rugged land on her farm and has also become an income-generating asset as neighbouring farmers hire it.
“It helps me in getting income. I’m able to do a lot of ploughing for people, and I’m able to get some income, and therefore it is improving my life,” Moshiri said.
How can farmers get Kubota tractors?
Farmers interested in acquiring a Kubota tractor can visit any Car & General dealership nationwide to identify the model best suited to their farming needs and obtain a proforma invoice. They can then visit their nearest Equity branch and apply for financing of up to 90% of the tractor’s cost.
The financing is available to both existing and non-Equity customers, subject to credit appraisal and internal processes.
