Makerere University College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) has acquired another MASCOR John Deere agricultural tractor worth US$26,500 (approximately shs.98, 050,000).

The tractor was purchased using college resources mainly from the project overheads.

The four wheel drive John Deere Agricultural Machinery, model 5075E with 75HP can be attached on a variety of farm implements including ploughs, harrows, planters, bailers and forage harvesters among others.

The machinery was supplied by John Deere MAS CORPORATION Company Ltd (MASCOR ) and delivered at the Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo (MUARIK) on Tuesday, 2nd October, 2018.

The suppliers were represented by Ms. Hellen Atuhaire and Mr. Lwanga Mande.

The handover ceremony was witnessed by University Bursar’s representative Mr. Teefe Paul, the Principal CAES, Prof. Bernard Bashaasha, Acting Director MUARIK  Dr. Alice Turinawe, the Acting Farm Manger Mr. Chrysostom Tweyambe, MUARIK security personnel and other university staff.

Receiving the equipment, the Principal CAES Prof. Bernard Bashaasha welcomed the suppliers to MUARIK saying,  this was the second tractor delivered (following the MaRCCI one) and expressed hope for further engagement with MASCOR.

“I thank MASCOR for the delivery. I appreciate that you have been good to us and I thank you for the efficient responses to our emails.

We have this farm that needs a lot of machinery. We need to strengthen our relationship in terms of other inputs and repairs”, Bashaasha said.

The Principal hailed the University management for allowing the college to buy the machine using her resources.

“Thank you for the goodwill. We could not have signed the contract without the goodwill of the university.

MUARIK is our Jewel. We do a lot of training, research, production and outreach activities.

The place trains for the whole country and therefore needs technology so that people can appreciate when they see new developments like this tractor”, Bashaasha noted.

The Principal implored the machine operators and entire staff at MUARIK  to maintain and  handle the equipment responsibly.

“They are very expensive machines, so go an extra mile to be careful. We won’t be with you in the field but we rely on you. I insist, please, do regular servicing”, he said.

Ms. Hellen Atuhaire  from MASCOR appreciated Makerere University for choosing John Deere MASCOR  as a business associate. She described the John Deere tractor as a brand new machine that can work in all situations.

The company provided the service kit for free and will offer the first two tractor services. It will also offer free training to the tractor operators before using the machine and a warranty of 2years or 2000hours whichever comes first.

The Acting Director MUARIK Dr. Alice Turinawe described the new delivery as a blessing.

“I am excited to have a new tractor. We have a lot of activities and it is a good starting point to come in office with a tractor which is a sign of blessings. It is my hope that the university will secure more, including implements”. Dr. Turinawe said.

Dr. Turinawe welcomed the Bursar’s Representative Mr. Teefe Paul, the Principal CAES and MASCOR and thanked them for being good partners and  delivering two tractors to MUARIK so far.

She reiterated the Principal’s request for MUARIK staff to be responsible, adding that the Institute was counting on them to look after the machinery well.

Report compiled by;
Jane Anyango,
Principal Communication Officer, CAES