Working Together Makes a Difference: Zambia Future Farm Family Tractor Donation

Longtime Fendt tractor enthusiast Mr. Norbert Stadler wanted to make a difference in the lives of African farmers, but he wasn’t quite sure how.

One day Mr. Stadler, who has a hobby vineyard in the Alsace region of France, read about AGCO’s Future Farm in Zambia and the Farm in a Box concept, and he thought, why not go directly to the source? Mr. Stadler emailed Martin Richenhagen, Chairman, President and CEO of AGCO, asking about making a donation.

Mr. Norbert Stadler in one of his Fendt tractors at his vineyard in the Alsace region of France

Correspondence with AGCO staff in Duluth and in Zambia followed. They worked together for months to identify a Future Farm family, source second-hand equipment for Mr. Stadler’s donation, and to provide the proper training.

The Njovu family at the Farm in a Box training

Earlier this fall, the Njovu family of Zambia gratefully received Mr. Stadler’s generous donation of a second-hand Massey Ferguson 4708 tractor and a 3-tine subsoiler, enabling them to work their own farm and to offer services to their local farming community.

Soil health is a major concern in this region of Africa, due to too much plowing being detrimental to the soil texture.

The Njovu family with their donated tractor and subsoiler

The Njovu family are mixed farmers who rear chickens and goats and grow vegetables and other crops for sale. They also offer a transport service to the community using their 2-ton truck to deliver their and other people’s farm products to market.

But this tractor story does not end here. Mr. Stadler and Moses Njovu will finally meet each other in person at the AGCO stand at Agritechnica in Hanover, Germany in November, when the AGCO Future Farm Choir will perform. Check back for an update from Agritechnica!