Aftrak combines solar microgrids and tailored tractors to empower smallholder farmers across the continent – aiming to significantly increase crop yields and incomes while providing access to clean, green electricity in rural communities.

A team, including academics from Loughborough University, headed out to Malawi in June 2024 to implement the first phase of Aftrak integration within local communities.

Professor Dani Strickland from the University’s Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering said they accomplished a “phenomenal amount” in their two weeks there: “We've built one solar farm with eight panels, enough to provide electricity to the village. We have also undertaken a small solar farm as a demonstrator at the Tiyeni [charity] headquarters. It was a real team effort.

“We want the villages to feel like they have access to more electricity so they can improve their lifestyles and potentially increase education opportunities for the youngsters. They can also hopefully start growing businesses, bringing more income and using that to help maintain the solar farm going forward.

“This was a trial to see if it was feasible to implement Aftrak in Africa, and we’ve obviously found that is it so we’d be looking a proper field trial which would run for potentially up to two years. We'd have lots of these around Africa. We'd be looking at different areas so we could monitor what was happening at different places and obviously we'd be working with Tiyeni to help monitor that impact. All going well, we would like to roll this out not just across Malawi but also neighbouring countries like Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, potentially to the north.”

Aftrak is currently raising investment to deploy its innovative technology across Malawi where 89% of the population lives without electricity access. It aims to contribute to World Bank goals of providing electricity to 380 million people in Africa by 2030.

Nicholous Soko is a former teacher who now farms in the village of Emsizini in the North of Malawi. He says the introduction of Aftrak is lifechanging: “This has brought new things to us. For so long we had no light but because of this [Aftrak] coming, the situation has improved for the better. We are no longer living in the dark but are living in the light.

“If you were to look at our gardens, you will see that we are facing many problems. The ground is hard, and this is going to help us dig up the soil for the beds. We are very happy because, for a long time, we have not had anything to use [to dig the beds] but now this machine will help us a lot. We expect the impact will really show in a year or two and we’ll have a good harvest and at the same time we are going to extend our gardens.”

Elizabeth Gondwe lives in the village, having studied in Zambia. She says Aftrak brings them great benefits: “We are happy about the electricity as we are not going to be in dark houses, we are happy with the lights. Before we had no lights but now [with more electricity] everybody is getting a TV.

“We are also really happy with Aftrak as it means we’re no longer needing to dig with hoes. I told people that I am too old to dig and we have been begging for a machine like this so we’re now going to throw our hoes away and use the Aftrak to extend our farm and our gardens.”

Loughborough’s work on Aftrak comes in partnership with the Consortium for Battery Innovation (CBI) and Malawian NGO, Tiyeni.

France Gondwe is the Monitoring and Evaluation Manager at Tiyeni and has worked with smallholder farmers for more than two decades. He says Aftrak is going to make a substantial difference to the people living there: “Aftrak solves many different solutions for farmers. Some of the households which now have access to electricity are already plugging in equipment and are using that for cooking, cleaning and even entertainment purposes.

“Aftrak will also help farmers in breaking the hardpan which will allow them to create more deep beds – potentially increasing the yield up to two or three times per hectare. This will then lead to more food and greater income. Obtaining sufficient yields has been a real challenge for farmers as we tend to get a lot of rainfall – which leads to flooding. So, this innovation helps people tremendously during these times.”

Project lead and Lecturer in Sustainable Energy Systems at Loughborough University, Dr Jonathan Wilson said: “In Malawi farmers cannot access the staples of modern life such as refrigeration and lighting without access to electricity - a luxury only 11% of the population benefit from.

“We have developed a self-sufficient solar micro electric tractor, increasing crop yields, profitability and the continued purchase of electricity for sustainable farming practices.

“We’re thrilled that Aftrak is already making its mark on African soil and bringing positive and life altering changes to people living in these remote communities. We are keen to bring Aftrak to all corners of Africa and already have next steps in place to make that a reality.

“By significantly lowering the physical barriers to the adoption of sustainable farming practices, Aftrak offers the potential for increased crop yield, increased income and increased food security.”

In May 2024, Aftrak was named the $1 million Grand Prize winner of the Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy and continues to benefit communities through its cost-effective technology for sustainable food production.