The IFAD aims to address the challenges faced by rural communities.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has appointed Eric Rwabidadi as its new Country Director in Cameroon, strengthening the organisation's commitment to advancing rural development in the country

With a robust investment portfolio of over US$200mn, IFAD aims to address the challenges faced by rural communities, including poverty, youth unemployment, gender inequality, and the increasing impacts of climate change on agriculture.

"Cameroon holds immense potential for agricultural transformation, and IFAD is pleased to be a trusted partner in unlocking that promise," said Rwabidadi upon presenting his credentials to Lejeune Mbella Mbella, Cameroon’s Minister of External Relations. He emphasised the importance of partnering with the Government and local communities to foster inclusive, climate-resilient rural development. The new director is particularly focused on empowering smallholder farmers, especially youth and women, as key drivers of sustainable change in agriculture.

IFAD has been a key partner in Cameroon for nearly 45 years, supporting initiatives aimed at improving access to quality financial services, developing value chains, and promoting youth entrepreneurship. Ongoing projects, such as the Commodity Value-Chain Development Support Project – Phase II (PADFA II) and the climate-resilience-focused ACREGIR project, are already making a significant impact. Additionally, the upcoming Youth Agropastoral Entrepreneurship Promotion Programme – Phase II will focus on boosting food security and enhancing climate adaptation.

"IFAD and Cameroon will continue to combine resources and expertise to increase investment in food systems, with a particular focus on youth and women entrepreneurship," Rwabidadi added. These efforts align with Cameroon’s 2035 Vision and aim to increase agricultural productivity, create rural jobs, and strengthen value chains for key crops like rice, onions, cocoa, and coffee.

Rwabidadi, who is a national of Rwanda, also assumes the role of Head of the Multi-Country Office for Central Africa, overseeing IFAD's operations in several African nations, including the Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, and others. With over 25 years of experience in various sectors, Rwabidadi brings a wealth of expertise to the role, ensuring that IFAD's initiatives continue to have a lasting impact on rural communities across the region.

Apollo is a modern ECU system that brings unmatched versatility, efficiency, and productivity to seeding operations.(Image credit: Topcon)

Topcon’s new Apollo application controllers are redefining the future of precision seeding, offering a powerful, integrated machine control solution for small grain air seeders

Designed with both performance and usability in mind, Apollo is a modern ECU system that brings unmatched versatility, efficiency, and productivity to seeding operations.

The Apollo ECU is weatherproof, stackable, and ISO compatible, and supports virtually every air seeder brand currently in use. Whether you’re managing a simple single-product application or complex, multi-product seeding with fertiliser and chemicals, Apollo delivers high-end performance with ease. When paired with Topcon’s GNSS autosteering, the system becomes a fully integrated solution for precision agriculture.

At the heart of the system is the Topcon X30 console, which, together with Horizon software, gives operators a sleek, user-friendly interface. This advanced touchscreen display combines rate control, GNSS guidance, path planning, and agronomic data collection in one intuitive platform. It’s a level of integration that sets a new benchmark in the seeder market.

Apollo allows control of up to eight product channels simultaneously – dry, liquid, or NH₃ – with full Variable Rate Control and independent Section Control for each boom. Optional blockage monitoring covers 100+ lines, helping operators avoid downtime and product waste.

With an ISO UT interface, Apollo integrates seamlessly with any ISOBUS-compliant console, displaying data from up to four tanks or bins and enabling advanced functions like variable rate seeding via its Task Controller.

Built for tough field conditions, Apollo’s solid-state, modular design ensures high reliability. The system is rated IP69K, resistant to high-pressure and high-temperature washdowns, and features LED indicators for fast, on-the-go diagnostics.

Additional components like the KP-12 CAN-based keypad allow for both in-cab and on-machine operation, making calibration and task execution smooth and efficient. Operators can choose from multiple calibration methods, including manual entry, automatic wizard, area test, or weight-based calculations – all tailored to ensure accuracy and ease of use.

With the Apollo system, Topcon is leading the charge toward smarter, more connected seeding technology – helping farmers increase yields, reduce input costs, and stay ahead in a competitive market.

This partnership leverages smart technology to increase agricultural productivity.

Hello Tractor, a leading agri-tech firm, has partnered with Heifer International to roll out an innovative Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) tractor financing model aimed at improving mechanised farming across Uganda

This partnership leverages smart technology to increase agricultural productivity, improve food supply, and generate employment along the farming value chain.

The latest phase of the partnership was officially launched on 12th September 2025 at Mascor Uganda, a well-known tractor dealership in Kampala. During the event, ten tractors were handed over to young entrepreneurs under the ‘Hello Tractor Booking Agents’ initiative.

Ronald Wabwire, Heifer International-Uganda’s Signature Programme Technical Lead, highlighted the collaboration’s purpose. “Our partnership with Hello Tractor furthers Heifer International’s mission of ending global poverty and hunger while caring for the earth through increased food production and on-farm productivity,” he said.

Wabwire noted that since the pilot of the Tractors for Africa project in June 2022, Heifer has facilitated access to 26 PAYG tractors, which Hello Tractor has matched, bringing the total active fleet on the platform in Uganda to 172. So far, the initiative has created 396 tractor operator jobs and supported 576 booking agents, enabling over 70,000 smallholder farmers to access mechanised services across 183,000 acres.

Hello Tractor provides tracking devices and software that allow farmers to book tractors via a mobile app. This system helps match the growing demand for mechanised services, especially in remote areas.

“The African continent has the least number of tractors per 1,000 hectares – fewer than two, compared to 10 in Asia,” Wabwire added, citing the limitations of hand tools and animal traction still used by over 95% of African farmers.

Farmers like Ogwang Moses Odongo and Joshua Waigolo shared how the PAYG model has helped them not only access tractors but also improve livelihoods and boost productivity in their communities.

Hello Tractor’s Credit Director, James Macharia, reported a 95% repayment rate under this model, thanks to flexible terms and strong after-sales support. Head of Operations Frank Muhumuza added, “We’re creating jobs and removing barriers to finance with tech-driven solutions that show real-time demand.”

At the heart of the sowing unit is the maintenance-free OptiDisc coulter bar with parallelogram-guided OptiDisc M double disc coulters. (Image credit: LEMKEN)

LEMKEN has introduced the new Solitair MF, a pneumatic seed drill designed to meet the highest standards of precision, flexibility, and user-friendliness

This folding model is a counterpart to the Solitair MR, but it brings unique advantages, particularly with its active seedbed preparation and rear-mounted seed hopper. Available in working widths of 4, 4.5, and 6 metres, the Solitair MF stands out as a powerful tool, perfect for taking full advantage of short sowing windows.

The Solitair MF ensures high metering precision as standard, with the basic model featuring two electrically operated metering units, each feeding a seed distributor. This design allows for width section or half-side control. For the 6-metre version, the seed drill can be further expanded to include up to four width sections. The metering units are corrosion-resistant and designed to handle fertilisers, making them durable and easy to maintain. Their design also ensures quick accessibility for maintenance, with metering wheels that can be changed without tools, even when the hopper is full, thanks to an integrated shut-off gate. The seed rate is adjustable from the tractor cab, with settings ranging from 0.5 to 500 kg per hectare.

The seed hopper of the Solitair MF has a capacity of 2,000 litres. For greater flexibility, an optional double tank with a 60:40 split is available, allowing for the application of different components. The seed drill can also be combined with the Solitair F front tank, which has a capacity of 1,900 or 2,400 litres, to enhance efficiency by holding additional components. Filling the hopper is made easier with a roller tarp cover, and the two-part filter can be fully removed for cleaning. The tank can be drained via a 90 mm flap, or for smaller residual quantities, through the metering unit itself.

A key feature of the Solitair MF is its OptiDisc coulter system, which provides precise seed placement, even in difficult conditions. The coulters are mounted on a maintenance-free, parallelogram-guided coulter bar, and they can be adjusted to apply a pressure of up to 45 kg. This ensures accurate seed placement regardless of the conditions. The sowing depth can be adjusted centrally from the left-hand side of the machine, independent of the coulter pressure. Operators can choose between row spacings of 12.5 cm or 15 cm, and the coulter bar can be further enhanced with optional harrow variants, which can be adjusted without the need for tools to suit varying operational conditions.

The Solitair MF is also designed to work seamlessly with ISOBUS systems and is equipped with the intuitive iQblue operating concept from LEMKEN. This makes it compatible with most popular ISOBUS terminals, allowing for easy management of all functions through a CCI terminal or any other universal terminal. For more precise and efficient sowing, the seed drill offers an optional automatic width section control system and GPS-supported job management for area-specific sowing. Furthermore, the iQblue Go app allows users to perform key tasks such as calibration, residual quantity drainage, and fill level monitoring directly from their mobile devices, adding a layer of convenience both in the field and during office work.

For optimal results, LEMKEN recommends pairing the Solitair MF with the Zirkon 12K power harrow, as this combination ensures excellent seedbed preparation. By mounting the seed drill on the power harrow headstock, weight distribution is optimised, and the centre of gravity is positioned closer to the tractor’s rear axle. When it comes to transport, the Solitair MF/600 is fitted with an automatic transport support wheel, which adjusts itself when the coulter bar is folded in or out, ensuring enhanced stability during road transport.

The LEMKEN Solitair MF is a cutting-edge seed drill that combines precision, flexibility, and efficiency, making it an essential tool for modern, high-performance farming operations.