A locally made multipurpose tractor has made its debut at the Nairobi ASK show that kicked off on Monday.
The locally manufactured tractor was realized due to a combined effort by university staff at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology in collaboration with students and other custodians from India.
In an exclusive interview with Baraka Fm in Nairobi Meshack Orangi from the technical department explained that a one piston tractor which uses five-liter diesel per day and plowing five acres of land per day is a cardinal factor of the unit gives it an upper hand to small-scale farmers compared to other tractors.
“What we have here is a tractor, is called ‘SHUJAA ” it can plough five acres by day and per day can use five liters of diesel per day too.”He said.
He said that it is a convenient machine following the fact that it is small which also a multipurpose functionality like milling, grinding grains, pumping water, preparing animal feed and transporting goods.
“It has also other functions, it has a power take-off which you will attach at the back you do other activities like milling, grinding also you can pump water prepare animal feed and for transportation by attaching a trailer,” Orangi said
He indicated that they have twenty units whereby they have already sold three of them, each costing a half a million shillings.
Orangi urged youths to exploit their talents in various sectors by pulling together and enhance innovation in a bid to create jobs and expand locally made goods and services.
“Let’s go local, let’s have interest, once you have interest you can come up with lots of innovation. Even young people can unite and come up with one machine as this one “Orangi said
After the assessment, the university triumphed whereby Nairobi International Trade Fair awarded it a trophy as the best institution in innovation matters.
