October 02, 2018 A PUBLICATION OF Government Advertising Agency Telposta Towers, Kenyatta Ave/ Koinange Street P.O Box 30025-00100, Nairobi Kenya NAIROBI-KENYA I Issue No. 0088 Telephone: (+254) 4920000 / 1 E-Mail: info@information.go.ke Want to hire a tractor? Don’t sweat it, there’s an app for it Th e ease of doing business is no longer limited to towns and cities. While Uber is all the rage in here, the trend catching on in rural areas is Tinga - a tractor for rent or hire scheme which comes with its own mobile and webbased application. Success stories like these are covered in an upcoming book on AgroInnovation by the Kenya Yearbook Editorial Board. Agro-Innovation Transforming agriculture toward sustainable development BY KYEB I n Nairobi and other towns in Kenya, a new trend is catching on – the Uber phenomenon. Today, many people who had never used taxis before are dialing their phones for instant access to Uber, a service that guarantees them aff ordable rates, a comfortable ride, professionalism and security. But this ease of doing things is not being experienced only in the towns or limited to Uber. In the rural areas, another trend is catching on – Tinga, a tractor for rent or hire scheme. And it comes complete with its own mobile and web-based application, the Tinga app. For many farmers, getting their land tilled can be a nightmare. Though owning a tractor and its accessories makes life on the farm easier, it remains a dream for many. Tractors are expensive and for some it makes no sense to own one, since they have small pieces of land. Many resort to contract farming or hiring of equipment. But this, too, has its fair share of challenges. First, where to get a tractor can be a challenge, with not even a single one within miles from one’s farm. Most farmers then return to the good old hoe, an implement whose time has passed. (According to research about 30 per cent of land in Kenya is tilled using motorised power, 20 per cent animal and 50 per cent human power.) And when you do get a tractor you are likely to be slapped with exorbitant fees, or get a rickety one prone to breakdowns. You will also most probably get a substandard or poor quality till, unless you have a very keen eye or are experienced in these matters. But things are now taking a turn for the better, with innovative and comprehensive solutions. Just dial, and you do not need to worry about where or who will provide these services. Alternatively, log into Tinga App or SMS Tinga to 22150 and your problems will be solved. TINGA, East Africa’s largest network of tractors and equipment, created by Impact Lease a subsidiary of Vehicle and Equipment Leasing Limited (Vaell) is an individual and community mechanisation concept that enables farmers to jointly access farm equipment such as tractors, ploughs, planters, combine harvesters and sprayers among others. Farmers come together either as an NGO, SACCO, Church, Cooperative society or Chama and Tinga provides equipment for farming use at the community level. Farmers can access farm mechanisation services through a Short Message Service (SMS) and mobile based application from which they d can choose a host of services ranging from chiselling, ploughing to harvesting. Th e equipment on Tinga app - , p - platform are available in different hubs across the coun- 30% - u , try. With the Tinga app, yo can request for: harrowing, planting, harvesting, spraying, chiseling, ploughing and seeding services and the solution will be delivered right to your doorstep, or simply dial the SMS number and you will be connected to a professional tiller at very competitive prices. d - t y u - - “With Tinga, farmers are able to contact us, book a service or make their own payments. As you register, you are asked about your location, acreage, and the services you require,” says Mr Paul Njeru, the managing director of Vaell. “We want to make it easy , u , for farmers so that they do not have to go far looking for tractors, or wait in long queues but can just click on the app and make their bookings. Most farmers are stuck in With Tinga, farmers are able to contact us, book a service or make their own payments. As you register, you are asked about your location, acreage, and the services you require - Paul Njeru 0202715390 / 0711944538 subsistence farming due to the few tractors available and we want to break this trend,” he adds. According to the director, the tractors are new and well-maintained and come with well-trained and professional operators. “To ensure that the company upholds these standards, you can always rate us for the quality of the job done on your farm,” he said. COMMUNITY TRACTORS But the Tinga app is just the beginning because, with the Impact Leasing LAYOUT, DESIGN AND EDITING OF MYGOV WEEKLY BY THE KENYA YEARBOOK EDITORIAL BOARD www.kenyayearbook.co.ke initiative, NHIF Building , 4th Floor @Kenyayearbook Percentage of land in Kenya tilled using motorised power, according to research. 20 per cent is tilled by animals and 50 per cent by human power you can also become a tractor owner (though, with other members of your community). m Y t h m m a c f You could co-own the tractor through purchase or lease and have it brought to your community where each registered member can use it at aff ordable charges. “We are working with communities to make these machines accessible to more farmers,” says Mr Njeru. “If people get together and say they need a tractor, we bring p t i it. Th at’s what we did in Namanga last year in December. m Th t Th ey have been getting tractors from Tanzania because there are only two tractors across the whole region, which are consistently booked.” Where land sizes are fi ve to 10 acres, Mr Njeru encourages farmers to get together as a community to get the services. “A community can be made up of 30 people or more. You can join as church members or a chama. Our target is at least 100 acres and we bring to you a tractor that will be there until the work is done.” When leasing or hiring a tractor which is accompanied by implement desired, a community should be registered as a group and appoint a comP.O. Box 34035-00100 Kenya Yearbook Editorial Board munity leader who will liaise with the company for the equipment and keep track on who the tractor should off er service to. “We won’t mind if the group also provides an operator. Farmers will then make their requests individually, especially through the community leader or Tinga app, which they will also use to pay for services. Where there is Tinga equipment hub, money can also be paid through pay bill.” Tinga is encouraging communities to consider owning tractors and has partnered with fi nancial institutions to make this possible. Th e company also supports the community by hiring idle tractors from those who own tractors in the community. One of the benefi ciaries is a Maasai community in a little village known as Ol ngarua in Namanga, Kajiado County. For this community, Christmas came early last year, when a team from Tinga delivered their fi rst communally operated tractor. The brand-new tractor gleamed in the sunshine, as its driver got ready to give a demonstration to the farmers. info@kenyayearbook.go.ke
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