Deere & Company (John Deere) said that it has made a minority investment in Kenyan ag-tech company Hello Tractor.

The amount has not been disclosed by the American tractor manufacturer.

Hello Tractor, which is headquartered in Nairobi, has a farm-equipment-sharing app to connect tractor owners with smallholder farmers across Africa and Asia. The app is said to enable farmers in tracking and handling their fleet, book customers, as well as access financing options.

Jason Brantley — John Deere Africa and Asia Ag & Turf Sales & Marketing Director said: “John Deere sees this as an opportunity to support Hello Tractor’s innovative work to provide technologies and solutions to agricultural entrepreneurs in Africa and Asia.

“Hello Tractor’s work also aligns with the John Deere Strategy and the Ag & Turf Division’s Leap Ambitions to ensure 100% of new Small Ag equipment is connectivity-enabled by 2026.”

John Deere said that Hello Tractor was among the first group of firms to take part in its Startup Collaborator program that was launched in 2019.

Jehiel Oliver — Hello Tractor founder said: “The partnership between Hello Tractor and John Deere has been building since our participation in John Deere’s Startup Collaborator program.

“We look forward to continuing to work together to ultimately help drive better economic outcomes for smallholder farmers.”

  Deere & Company, Hello Tractor, Jason Brantley, Jehiel Oliver, John Deere, Kenya, Nairobi