MOLINE,
Ill., Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Deere &
Company (NYSE: DE) has made a minority investment in Hello Tractor,
an ag-tech company based in Nairobi, Kenya. Hello Tractor connects
tractor owners with smallholder farmers in Africa and Asia through a
farm-equipment-sharing app, which allows farmers to track and
manage their fleet, book customers, and access financing
options.
Hello Tractor was among the first group of companies to
participate in John Deere's Startup Collaborator program, launched
in 2019 to enhance and deepen Deere's interaction with startup
companies whose technology could add value for customers.
"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," said Jason
Brantley, Director, Ag & Turf Sales & Marketing –
Africa and Asia, at John Deere. "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."
"The partnership between Hello Tractor and John Deere has been
building since our participation in John Deere's Startup
Collaborator program," said Jehiel
Oliver, Hello Tractor founder. "We look forward to
continuing to work together to ultimately help drive better
economic outcomes for smallholder farmers."
Hello Tractor has approximately 25 employees and will continue
to operate from its current location in Africa.
About Deere & Company
Deere & Company (www.JohnDeere.com) is a global leader in
the delivery of agricultural, construction, and forestry equipment.
We help our customers push the boundaries of what's possible in
ways that are more productive and sustainable to help life leap
forward. Our technology-enabled products including John Deere
Autonomous 8R Tractor, See & Spray™, and E-Power Backhoe are
just some of the ways we help meet the world's increasing need for
food, shelter, and infrastructure. Deere & Company also
provides financial services through John Deere Financial.
For more information on Deere & Company, visit us at
www.deere.com/en/news/.
About Hello Tractor
Hello Tractor is an award-winning agricultural technology
company focused on improving food and income security for
smallholder farmers relying on expensive and often unavailable
manual labor. Our solution: we have developed technology to
increase and optimize tractor activity in Africa. Hello Tractor connects tractor owners
and smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa through farm
equipment sharing application that bridges the gap between
traditional farming and more technologically advanced
approaches.
By creating equitable access to tractor services, Hello Tractor
enables smallholder farmers to earn more and grow more, improving
livelihoods and food security for their families and communities.
To learn more about Hello Tractor, visit
www.hellotractor.com/press.
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SOURCE Deere & Company