Sylvia Duruson
Volkswagen Group Africa has launched its multifunctional facility in Gashora, Rwanda, to pilot a groundbreaking farming initiative known as the GenFarm project. This comprehensive ecosystem of e-powered mechanized farming services aims to transform the rural landscape of Africa, offering a dependable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly approach to agriculture.
Volkswagen’s GenFarm project is a testament to the company’s commitment to fostering technological innovation and aligning its strategies with the goal of generating meaningful value for society and the environment through sustainable mobility. Led by Martina Biene, the Volkswagen Group Africa Chairperson and Managing Director, the project is a collaborative effort between Volkswagen Mobility Solutions Rwanda and the Volkswagen Group Innovation Centre Europe.
In June 2023, Volkswagen Group signed an agreement with the Rwandan government to allocate land for the GenFarm project, providing clean energy and business space to local farming cooperatives. The project’s Empowerment Hub (e-Hub), expected to be fully operational by 2025, will serve as a hub for storage and operations of e-tractors and e-scooters, further enhancing the project’s impact.
Through the GenFarm project, farmers in Rwanda can now book e-tractors, complete with trained drivers, for their agricultural needs. The unique selling point of this initiative is the battery swap system, which allows the battery to become part of the hub’s energy infrastructure and energy storage for the tractors, ensuring an affordable and sustainable farming experience.
Volkswagen Group Innovation Centre Europe will supply the electric tractors and other equipment from Germany, while Volkswagen Mobility Solutions Rwanda will oversee the operations at the pilot hub. Additionally, the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) are supporting the project, contributing their expertise in research, education, and machinery procurement.
Rwanda’s commitment to renewable energy is evident, with the country reporting a renewable energy consumption of 79.9% in 2022, according to the World Bank. To further accelerate the transition to electric vehicles and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Rwandan government has extended the zero-rated import duty on electric and hybrid vehicles until the end of the new fiscal year 2024/25.
The success of the GenFarm project is part of a broader trend in Rwanda, where e-mobility providers have witnessed significant growth. Recent examples include IZI Electric’s $222,000 grant from the Rwanda Green Fund to expand its operations, and BasiGo Rwanda’s $225,000 recoverable grant to upgrade its charging infrastructure for its fleet of electric public transport buses.
The Volkswagen Group Africa’s GenFarm project in Rwanda serves as a beacon of hope for the future of sustainable farming in Africa. By harnessing the power of electric-powered mechanized agriculture and fostering collaborative partnerships, this initiative aims to transform the rural landscape, empower local farmers, and pave the way for a more environmentally conscious and prosperous agricultural sector across the continent.
