In Nakuru, Kenya, facing the challenges of muddy farming during the rainy season and compacted soil during the dry season, agricultural machinery from China is helping the local area enhance land productivity.
At the local warehouse of Zoomlion, engineer Solomon is conducting a pre-delivery inspection of the tractor. Here, every piece of equipment must undergo strict inspection before it is released from the warehouse, which is the first step in ensuring agricultural production. "This is a 110-horsepower machine, usually used for transporting agricultural supplies to farmers." He skillfully operates it. The equipment is about to be sent to the Angata Sugar Factory.
This warehouse houses approximately 300 agricultural machines, mainly including tractors, rice harvesters and transplanting machines. "Many Kenyans like our tractors because they have ample power, low fuel consumption and are easy to operate," Kenneth, the agricultural service engineer from Zoomlion in Kenya, explained.
The agricultural sector in Kenya accounts for as high as 70% of the total population. The lack of mechanization has always been a bottleneck hindering the local development. When traditional manpower meets extreme weather conditions, and when second-hand equipment is unable to meet the demand for food, efficient and reliable agricultural machinery has become an urgent need for this land.
From March to May and from September to November each year, it is the farming season in Kenya, and sugarcane has a bumper harvest. John, the logistics manager of Angata Sugar Factory, is coordinating several pieces of agricultural machinery to head to the sugarcane fields. "Sugarcane is one of the important economic crops in Kenya. The sugar industry has made a positive contribution to Kenya's economic development. We have planted over 1,000 hectares of sugarcane and purchased approximately 60 pieces of equipment. Compared to the past, our efficiency and output have significantly improved," John said.
"Our tractors, once deployed in sugar factories, can help them save approximately 30% of their operating costs in terms of short-distance transportation," said Zhu Wenxi, the deputy general manager of the East African region of Zoomlion Overseas Company. Maalara, the agricultural machinery operator at the sugar factory, also expressed her delight: "Previously, we relied on manual handling. Now with the machines, the work has become much easier."
To ensure the efficient operation of agricultural machinery equipment, Zoomlion will send local service engineers to the sugar factory on a permanent basis, so as to be able to deal with emergencies at any time. "One of the very considerate things about Zoomlion is that they provide us with permanent engineers. Any faults can be quickly resolved because they are always on site. We have benefited greatly from the services and support they provide." John said.
"When facing an emergency situation, we will immediately dispatch our on-site service engineers to address the issue. During the resolution process, we will also provide training to the operators and their maintenance staff, so that in the future, if they encounter similar problems, they can solve them independently." said Deng Meng, the service manager of Zoomlion in East Africa. "For example, in Kenya, the climate is mainly divided into rainy season and dry season, resulting in many muddy roads. During transportation, the operators frequently use the brakes. The factory upgraded the brake pads, and we also upgraded the braking systems of the machines that were subsequently delivered."
"After we conducted research and development tailored to local needs, customers will also come to believe that the products made in China by us are reliable, durable and easy to maintain in their local areas," said Zhu Wenxi.
Ken, a service engineer, has returned after a 15-day study in China. "I witnessed the entire process of machine assembly, testing and installation. This experience is extremely valuable to me. It enables me to bring the knowledge back to Kenya, helping technicians and operators better understand the use of tractors and enabling them to work independently and efficiently. I believe this is not only beneficial to my country but also will bring help to the entire East African region."
In his technical guidance site, the voices of explanation and operation interweave. "I mainly train them on the safe driving operation methods because safety comes first." From Chinese classrooms to African fields, the seeds of knowledge are taking root and sprouting in the simplest way.
This indeed promoted the development of agriculture. The equipment of Zoomlion significantly increased the output of grains and raw materials in sugar factories and the surrounding areas, making the work much easier. Whether it was field operations or the use of matching agricultural tools, everything became more efficient. We hope that in the future we can have more such cooperation opportunities, John said.
From research to application, from knowledge to equipment, a channel connecting modern agriculture is extending across the African continent. The promotion and application of Chinese agricultural machinery have provided certain equipment support for Kenya's agricultural modernization. Today's harvest is not only a gift from the land, but also embodies the wisdom and innovation of China and Kenya working together. The agricultural cooperation between China and Africa is writing a new chapter of fertile land for the future.
