The GenFarm Project is a comprehensive ecosystem offering e-powered mechanized farming services tailored to rural African communities, designed for reliability, sustainability, and environmental friendliness. Additionally, it provides transportation solutions for goods and people, creating a holistic mobility service.
In June 2023, Volkswagen Group Africa signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rwandan government to allocate land for the GenFarm Project. “We see Rwanda as a vital growth market and a gateway for our expansion in Africa,” said Martina Biene, Volkswagen Group Africa Chairperson and Managing Director. “The GenFarm Project exemplifies our commitment to sustainable practices and our capacity to deliver mobility solutions to both rural and urban areas. Through this initiative, we are not only fostering technological innovation but also advancing sustainable mobility, aligning with our strategy to generate lasting value for society and the environment.”
The project is being piloted in Rwanda, in collaboration with Volkswagen Mobility Solutions Rwanda and Volkswagen Group Innovation Centre Europe. A core element of the GenFarm Project is the Empowerment Hub (e-Hub), a temporary container-based facility that will eventually transition into a permanent structure by early 2025. The e-Hub will feature a photovoltaic power system and energy storage capabilities, providing clean energy and essential resources such as storage, business space, and service operations for cooperatives, including e-tractor and e-scooter services.
Volkswagen Group Innovation Centre Europe supplies the e-tractors and other equipment from Wolfsburg, Germany, while Volkswagen Mobility Solutions Rwanda plays a key role in operating and supporting the pilot hub.
Dr. Nikolai Ardey, Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Innovation, highlighted the functionality of the GenFarm Project, saying, “The e-Hub will offer a range of services, enabling farmers to book e-tractors with trained drivers for sustainable farming. The battery swap system is a distinctive feature, allowing batteries to function both as a power source for tractors and as part of the hub’s energy infrastructure.”
The project is supported by the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. RICA contributes research and training to prepare Rwanda’s next generation of agricultural leaders, while GIZ, on behalf of the German government, is helping procure machinery and assess necessary hub services for local farmers.
Initially benefiting cooperatives in Gashora, Bugesera district, the GenFarm Project brings together partners with unique expertise to drive sustainable growth in Rwanda’s agricultural sector. Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Rwanda’s economy, accounting for 25% of the national GDP and playing a critical role in improving livelihoods across the country.