Modern technologies help farmers not only increase work efficiency but also reduce production costs. One such solution can be a tractor autopilot, which allows for more precise work and resource conservation.
That is why SFG “Ruta” in Kirovohrad region, which cultivates about 200 hectares of land, decided to invest in innovative solutions. In the difficult conditions of war, when most of the farm’s workers are mobilized, owner Yaroslav Khmurynsky was looking for ways to optimize field work. This spring, he decided to invest in modern technologies to improve working conditions: through WEAGRO’s online agricultural installment service for agribusiness, he purchased a tractor autopilot from Frendt company. The total cost of the equipment was almost 327 thousand hryvnias. Thanks to the interest-free installment program, the debt was paid off by autumn. To conclude the agreement, it was only necessary to submit an application, after which the service verified documents for 30 minutes and approved the payment deferral.
Smart Investments in Difficult Times
As Yaroslav notes, the decision to purchase an autopilot came after watching a video on YouTube: “I realized that the autopilot would help save resources and make field work easier. I called Frendt, and they suggested using installments through WEAGRO. This was important for me because I could pay for the equipment after harvest.” The farmer not only solved the question of where to get money for business but also was able to pay for the new autopilot in installments.
The autopilot was installed before the start of field operations. Thanks to the equipment, the tractor works almost autonomously: the farmer sets up navigation, sets the direction, and the machinery performs operations with high precision. This allows for significant time and energy savings, as well as reduced costs for fuel, seeds, and fertilizers. Thanks to the autopilot, overlap was reduced to 3 cm, which allowed for savings on seeds, fuel, and fertilizers. The farmer was also able to cultivate twice as much area in the same time, significantly increasing productivity.
Autopilot Benefits for the Farmer
The technologies offered by Frendt open new opportunities for farmers. The autopilot optimizes work: the autopilot minimizes overlap to 3 cm, which saves seeds and increases work precision even on irregularly shaped fields.
The machinery works faster and more precisely, which is especially important in conditions of labor shortage. Work occurs under any conditions: the autopilot functions day and night, in fog or bad weather, ensuring stable results. Automation significantly eases the operator’s work, reduces fatigue, and increases efficiency.
According to Yaroslav, using the autopilot allows for cultivating significantly larger areas in the same time: “I myself did disking and cultivating, and I get much less tired after purchasing the autopilot. You can do twice as much. It’s an expensive thing, but it’s worth it. Whoever buys it will understand.”
Supporting Farmers in Difficult Times
The WEAGRO online service became an important financial tool for Yaroslav. Just as for all farmers – thanks to the convenient installment mechanism, farmers get the opportunity to invest in technologies without feeling financial pressure.
The WEAGRO online service, developed with support from the USAID AGRO Program, has facilitated 120 agreements worth over 54.7 million hryvnias since 2024.
For many small and medium-sized farms, the issue of access to financing remains problematic. Providing collateral, which banks often require, is not always possible, and Yaroslav did not want to mortgage his own home.
“We haven’t taken loans for more than 10 years. We covered everything with our own funds. But now circumstances force us to look for new approaches. WEAGRO is a convenient solution without unnecessary risk,” Yaroslav shared.
The installment program offered by the service allows for paying off the equipment cost after harvest. In the case of SFG “Ruta”, this proved to be an ideal option, as the autopilot will eventually pay for itself through increased productivity.
Now the farmer emphasizes that it is more important for him to ensure quality and work efficiency. The Frendt autopilot became an important step in this direction, and the WEAGRO online service proved its value as a partner that helps Ukrainian farms develop. Yaroslav Khmurynsky plans to continue investing in modern agricultural technologies to further increase farm efficiency. The next step may be installing a precision farming system that will allow even better control of resource consumption and improve yields. And the farmer already knows exactly where to get money for business.
Yaroslav Khmurynsky’s story is an example of how technologies and modern financial solutions can support farmers even in the most difficult times. The Frendt autopilot not only simplified daily operations but also allowed focusing on development strategy. Thanks to WEAGRO, these innovations become accessible to every farmer, creating a foundation for a stable future of the Ukrainian agricultural sector.
