Bugesera District, Rwanda – 26 June 2026

The sound of modern farm machinery echoed across Gen-Farm Project Hub in Gashora, Bugesera District, as hundreds of farmers, agricultural experts, policymakers, development partners, and private sector actors gathered to witness how sustainable agricultural mechanization is transforming smallholder farming in Rwanda.

The occasion marked the Agricultural Mechanization Day and Graduation Ceremony, organized under the Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization through Farmer Field Schools (SAM-FFS) Project, a partnership between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), and the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA).

More than a showcase of tractors and farm equipment, the event demonstrated how innovation, knowledge, and collaboration are helping address one of agriculture's greatest challenges—improving productivity while reducing the burden of manual labor.

For years, many smallholder farmers in Bugesera, Gatsibo, and Kirehe districts have relied heavily on labor-intensive farming methods. Limited awareness of appropriate agricultural machinery, inadequate access to mechanization services, and financial constraints have slowed agricultural transformation, resulting in low productivity, high production costs, and significant post-harvest losses.

Through specialized training on sustainable agricultural mechanization, conservation agriculture, and business development, the project has built a network of Farmer Field School facilitators and mechanics capable of supporting farming communities long after the project's implementation.

Speaking during the event, organizers emphasized that agricultural mechanization is not simply about replacing manual labor with machines; it is about creating efficient, climate-smart, and commercially viable farming systems that improve livelihoods and strengthen national food security.

Throughout the day, participants observed live demonstrations of mechanized land preparation, planting, and other field operations. Machinery manufacturers, dealers, agri-tech innovators, financial institutions, and service providers exhibited a wide range of technologies while providing farmers with information on machinery ownership, hiring services, financing opportunities, and maintenance support.

The demonstrations illustrated how appropriate mechanization can reduce labor shortages, lower production costs, improve operational efficiency, and minimize crop losses. Participants also explored digital farming innovations designed to help farmers make informed decisions and increase productivity.

Beyond technology, the event placed strong emphasis on youth engagement. By showcasing agriculture as a modern, technology-driven sector, organizers hope to inspire more young people to view farming as a profitable and rewarding career.

A key highlight of the day was the graduation of 29 Farmer Field School facilitators and 15 trained mechanics, who successfully completed capacity-building programmes under the SAM-FFS Project. The graduates received certificates recognizing their new role as community champions for sustainable agricultural mechanization.

These newly trained facilitators are expected to transfer their knowledge to fellow farmers through peer-to-peer learning, while mechanics will provide essential machinery repair and maintenance services within their communities. Together, they will help improve access to mechanization services, reduce equipment downtime, and promote the wider adoption of improved farming technologies.

The graduates are also expected to establish local mechanization service enterprises, creating employment opportunities while expanding access to affordable farm machinery for smallholder producers.

The Agricultural Mechanization Day demonstrated that achieving agricultural transformation requires more than machinery alone. It demands strong partnerships, practical training, innovative financing solutions, and empowered local communities capable of sustaining change.

As Rwanda continues its journey toward modernizing agriculture, initiatives such as the SAM-FFS Project are laying the foundation for a more productive, resilient, and commercially oriented agricultural sector—one where mechanization serves as a catalyst for increased food security, economic growth, and improved livelihoods for smallholder farmers.