Aftrak

Aftrak pairs a solar-powered micro-grid with a compact micro-tractor, so that the same installation that powers a village can also work its fields. Developed by researchers at Loughborough University, the system has been deployed in Malawi, where it has increased crop yields by up to three-fold while providing clean, reliable electricity to the surrounding community.

Why it matters

Across much of East Africa, smallholder farmers face two linked constraints: soil that must be worked by hand, and homes without dependable power. Aftrak addresses both with one piece of decentralised infrastructure. Farming income rises with mechanisation, and part of that additional income sustains the electricity supply — a model designed to keep working long after installation.

Ronella's role

Ronella Group supports Aftrak as an integrator: evaluating deployment sites, connecting the Loughborough team with on-the-ground agencies in East Africa, and exploring how the technology fits into our wider agricultural and energy programmes. Machines are already operational and showing measurable improvements in farming efficiency, soil health and energy access.

What's next

We are evaluating distribution pathways for wider rural adoption and are keen to hear from project developers, community leaders, NGOs and commercial partners who can help accelerate the rollout.