CRN News Desk| The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has handed over essential garage tools and maintenance equipment to the Yei Crop Training Centre (CTC) to help restore tractor services and boost agricultural production in Yei River County.
The equipment, provided through the Community-Driven Rural Development (CDRD) project, is expected to help repair and maintain tractors used by farmers and cooperatives ahead of the upcoming planting seasons.
Years of conflict and limited maintenance facilities have left many tractors in Yei out of service, while the few operational machines have been overstretched, causing delays in land preparation for farmers.
The equipment includes an air compressor, a mobile diesel welding generator, specialized mechanical toolboxes and personal protective equipment. The tools will support servicing and field repairs for eight tractors operating across Yei County.
David Amule, Administrator of Yei CTC, welcomed the support, saying restoring the tractors would help farmers expand the land they cultivate and improve agricultural production.
“We warmly welcome and thank GIZ for this timely support,” Amule said.
Isaac Asiki, Director of Agriculture at the County Agriculture Department, called for the equipment to be put into immediate use and urged proper maintenance and management.
“These garage tools and accessories must be put to immediate use so that our tractors are ready to serve every farmer waiting in our county,” Asiki said.
According to GIZ, repairing and returning the tractors to service could benefit at least 3,000 farmers and help bring more than 10,000 hectares of land into cultivation.
The CDRD project will also train tractor operators and farmers in the use of agricultural machinery for ploughing, harrowing and sowing.
The project is implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and co-funded by the European Union and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.