BEYI Group is modernizing rice planting in Rwanda with a low-cost solar rice planting machine and planting/rental services. The venture delivers standard seed spacing, plants 1.5 hectares in 10 hours, and cuts planting expenses by up to 50% compared with manual methods.
- Cohort: GIIH Cohort 2
- Status: First working prototype · 75 cooperatives interested
- Product: Solar rice planting machine + services
- Pricing: 120 USD/ha planting · 150 USD/day rental · 3,000 USD sale
- Contact: beyi4008@gmail.com · Kigali, Rwanda
- Sector: Agriculture & agri-tech
Short story
Months of back-breaking manual planting during the season often lead to disappointing harvests when seedlings are poorly spaced — reducing yields and food security for farming communities.
The problem
- Poor alignment and spacing of seeds reduces harvest quality
- Costly, time-consuming manual planting — labour-intensive work in flooded paddies
- High cost of existing machines — industrial transplanters unaffordable for most cooperatives
- Health risks — back pain and waterborne diseases from prolonged field work
The solution
A low-cost solar rice planting machine and associated services:
- Plant 1.5 ha in 10 hours
- Provide standard spacing for higher yields
- Offer affordable planting and machine rental services
- Reduce planting expenses by 50%
Business model
- Planting services: 120 USD/ha · cost 70 USD · profit 50 USD
- Machine renting: 150 USD/day · cost 70 USD · profit 80 USD
- Machine sales: 3,000 USD · cost 2,000 USD · profit 1,000 USD
Market size
- 275 rice cooperatives in Rwanda (Farmers’ Rice Cooperative network)
- Average cooperative field: 300 hectares
- TAM per cooperative (planting/renting): 70 USD × 300 ha × 2 seasons = 42,000 USD/year
Traction
- First working prototype completed
- Participated in a workshop in Kigali, Rwanda
- 75 cooperatives interested in planting services
Impact
- Employment opportunities in rural communities (SDG 8)
- 45% increase in rice production harvest (SDG 2 — Zero Hunger)
- Environment protection through efficient planting (SDG 13)
- Reduced waterborne disease and back pain from manual labour (SDG 3)
Competitive landscape
BEYI competes against manual planting, simple hand-operated tools, walk-behind transplanters, and large industrial machinery — positioning as the affordable mechanized middle ground.
Competitive advantages
- Environmentally friendly solar-powered design
- Easy to use with low maintenance requirements
- Affordable vs industrial transplanters
- Easily accessible planting and rental services for cooperatives
Testimony
"Your machine plants on appropriate spacing and alignment. My harvest decreases when the paddings are not planted on standards. Using your machine would increases my harvest, and help to provide my community more food to eat."
— Mugiraneza Xavier, Nyacyonga Rice Farmer
Together we can change lives of million people.
Future roadmap
- Nov 2022 – May 2023: Cooperation with FUCORIRWA and RAB
- Mar – Jun 2023: Have working machines ready
- Nov 2023 – Apr 2023: Plant 100 ha next season
- Jun – Jul 2024: Offer planting services to 25 cooperatives
Team
- Enock Abayisenga — CEO · Mechanical engineer
- Regis Cyibutso — CTO · Software & hardware designer
- Liliane Niyigena — COO · Business management
- Liliane Niyigena — CMO · Marketing
- Sylvie Isingizwe — Quality control manager · Master’s in renewable energy
Funding needs
Seeking at least $35,000 USD:
- 50% — Product development
- 30% — Human resources
- 20% — Sales & transport
Join us in the journey of modernising rice planting!
