GEARED UP & ON A ROLL

Chinese agricultural machinery helps farmers reap rich rewards in developing markets

"When I saw the tricycle, it was love at first sight," said Ugandan businessman John Kalema.

Kalema, 46, runs a transportation business at a farmers' market in Kampala, capital of the African country.

His first diesel-powered cargo tricycle is a sturdy, popular model of the Wuzheng Group, or WAW, a manufacturer of motor tricycles and other agricultural vehicles in Wulian county of Rizhao, in East China's Shandong province.

Kalema's three Wuzheng tricycles each help him bring in at least 780 yuan ($107) a week, enough to earn him a name as a successful entrepreneur in the community.

"What's most important for my business is loading capacity, durability and fuel efficiency," said Kalema, adding that for those reasons, Wuzheng's tricycles, known locally as WAW Tuku-Tuku vehicles, are crucial for farmers, workers and other locals like himself.

"In comparison with a petrol tricycle, with a WAW diesel tricycle we save over 30 percent daily on fuel alone," he said. "The support and service team is amazing ... we can move toward a better tomorrow with these machines."

Kalema's experience and that of many others like him reflect the positive impact that major Chinese companies are having in Uganda.

In line with the Belt and Road Initiative promoting shared development, Wuzheng Group is helping Ugandan farmers with agricultural mechanization, reducing labor costs while increasing production and incomes.

The large-scale promotion of agricultural technology and machinery in Uganda has helped plug technological and expertise gaps, with millions of farmers set to benefit from the move, according to the company.

Bu Qingshan, who heads Wuzheng's international cooperation activities in Uganda, said technology and training exchanges, such as regular workshops to aid local workers in vehicle maintenance and repair, will help Ugandan farmers to fully tap their rich resources.

"We also learn from them, their local knowledge and local conditions, to further maximize efficiency and share the benefits," he said.

Similar efforts are also reaping rewards in Wuzheng's Southeast Asian developing markets.

Li Chunyang, who runs the group's operations in the region, said its vehicles sold in markets such as Myanmar and Indonesia are adapted to the local climate and farmers' needs, including custom-fitted canopies and direct-rear gear shifts for greater maneuverability in smaller farm plots.

"We've set up service and accessories centers that can solve problems on the spot," Li said. "Response from the locals has been very good and the benefits are clear."