The Tractor Project 
There is a 5410 John Deere tractor sitting idle on the Saint Rose of Lima school grounds. It was left by a man hired by the government to plow lands. In need of repairs, he left the tractor here over a year ago and has not come back for it. A good diesel mechanic came by in August to evaluate this tractor and he deemed it a worthwhile investment. He is confident he can get the tractor running again, so we are pursuing the purchase. We have negotiated the price down to $5,000 USD including the plow attachment.
Yes, there is significant work that needs to be done on this tractor, but nothing unreasonable. With an untrained eye, major repairs include four new tires at $1,500 for all four (the holes are all too big to be patched), a new battery, and minor hydraulic repair on the plow attachment. We are hopeful to purchase this tractor and hire this mechanic to make all the repairs.
Why does HaitiCSR need a tractor? We can be extremely productive with a tractor, including:
- Carrying more construction equipment faster than by oxcart. We can construct a towalong pickup bed.
- Carrying rocks to improve the roadways.
- During the rainy season, we have spent countless hours trying to free equipment trucks from the mud. This tractor can easily pull stuck equipment out of muddy ditches.
- Plowing farmland in a fraction of the time over manual plowing with oxen.
- Creating a job for one man to operate the tractor. He can create a business to plow neighbors' farmland for a reasonable price.
Some specs of the tractor:
John Deere 5410, built in 2000
Plow attachment 3635
The rear tires will cost $526 each. Each front tire is $229.
