Nairobi: Global automotive and equipment distributor Inchcape has partnered with NCBA in a strategic financing arrangement aimed at accelerating agricultural mechanisation and improving farm productivity across Kenya. The partnership will enable farmers to access modern tractors and farm implements through flexible financing options, addressing long-standing barriers to mechanisation that have constrained agricultural output, particularly among smallholder farmers.
According to Kenya News Agency, Inchcape Managing Director (MD) Marion Gathoga-Mwangi noted during the partnership launch that the collaboration marks a significant milestone in supporting Kenya’s agricultural transformation agenda. She emphasized that access to the right equipment should never be a barrier, highlighting that the partnership is a major step forward in empowering farmers and agribusinesses by making tractor acquisition easier, more affordable, and more accessible nationwide.
Mwangi stated that mechanisation remains a key driver of agricultural efficiency, allowing farmers to increase yields, lower production costs, and improve overall farm profitability. Modern, reliable machinery reduces labour intensity while improving the timeliness of farm operations, particularly during peak seasons. Through the partnership, Inchcape will supply tractors and implements from its global brands, with a primary focus on New Holland tractors, known for their durability and versatility, engineered specifically for African farming conditions.
New Holland tractors offer proven reliability in the field, built to be efficient and able to deliver results across various terrains and weather conditions. The tractor range includes models from 55 to over 80 horsepower, available in both two-wheel and four-wheel drive options to suit different landscapes and farming needs. Farmers will also have access to a full range of compatible implements, such as ploughs, harrows, disc harrows, sprayers, and balers, ensuring they have access to complete solutions that meet their specific farming requirements.
Furthermore, Inchcape has strengthened its national footprint to support customers through branches in Nairobi, Nakuru, Eldoret, and Kisumu, with plans to expand to Mombasa, Nanyuki, and Meru. Mobile service vans and factory-trained technicians will provide after-sales support, spare parts, and maintenance services closer to farmers, ensuring timely support so their equipment is ready when the farming season begins.
NCBA Group Director for Asset Finance, Lennox Mugambi, pointed out that the partnership responds to the urgent need to modernise Kenya’s agriculture sector, which contributes about 21 percent of GDP and employs nearly 40 percent of the population, rising to 69 percent in rural areas. He highlighted that productivity is still limited by a heavy reliance on manual labour, while climate change continues to pose a threat to food security.
Mugambi reported that motorised farm power usage in Kenya stands at about 30 percent, compared to higher levels in more mechanised economies, with women and youth bearing the greatest burden of labour-intensive farming systems. Under the partnership, NCBA will finance up to 95 percent of the cost of tractors and selected farm implements, with additional working capital of up to Sh500,000 available to eligible customers after purchase. Flexible repayment options aligned to farming cycles have been introduced, allowing farmers to align instalments with harvest periods, including a 60-day grace period before the first payment is due.
NCBA is also leveraging blended finance models by working with development finance institutions and non-governmental organisations to make agricultural credit more affordable and sustainable. All financed assets will be insured through NCBA’s insurance intermediary to protect both farmers and the bank.
The partnership aligns with the government’s National Agricultural Mechanisation Policy of 2024, which seeks to increase mechanisation levels and improve agricultural productivity and incomes. Mugambi emphasized that this collaboration is about empowering farmers to expand acreage, improve yields, and strengthen livelihoods while contributing to national food security and economic growth.
Both partners expressed confidence that the initiative will support the government’s ambition to increase agriculture’s contribution to GDP beyond current levels. Mwangi reassured that with the right equipment and financing, mechanisation will become a practical tool for farmers across the country.
