Hello Tractor wins Africa Sustainable Futures Award for smart mechanisation model

AFRICA – Hello Tractor has been named the winner of the Agribusiness category at the 2025 Africa Sustainable Futures Awards, presented by the Financial Times and the World Bank Group.

The announcement came during a special ceremony at the close of the FT’s 12th Africa Summit held on October 22, 2025, in London.

Expanding access to farm equipment

The award recognises Hello Tractor’s innovative and commercially scalable approach to solving Africa’s long-standing agricultural productivity challenge through its data-driven tractor financing and deployment system.

The company was honoured for its Pay-As-You-Go Tractor Financing and Mechanisation Hubs product, an initiative designed to remove one of Africa’s biggest barriers to growth: access to farm equipment and finance for smallholder farmers.

Unlike traditional credit systems, Hello Tractor uses real-time tractor data to evaluate lending risk. This allows it to offer loans to farmers who usually lack formal financial histories.

Since its launch in 2022, the platform has financed over 300 individuals for more than 650 farm machines, building a US$15 million loan portfolio with strong repayment records and zero expected credit losses.

Most of the beneficiaries are first-time borrowers. The system has helped them improve productivity and income while enabling service providers to grow their operations. “Our goal is simple, to ensure every farmer, no matter how small, can access the tools they need to farm efficiently and profitably,” said a Hello Tractor spokesperson.

Building a connected ecosystem

The company’s success has grown through strategic partnerships, especially with John Deere and Heifer International. These partners helped establish Hello Tractor’s first lending portfolio and continue to strengthen its reach.

Together, they have created an ecosystem that links more than 2.5 million farmers across 20 countries to mechanisation services supported by a fleet of over 6,500 tractors and combines.

“This award is a recognition of what can happen when technology meets collaboration,” said the company’s founder. “We are proud of what this means for Africa’s farmers and for the continent’s food systems.”

Through this network, farmers gain affordable and reliable access to tractors, while service providers expand their businesses and create jobs that drive rural economies.

Future growth

Hello Tractor plans to deploy an additional US$60 million in loans over the next two years to extend its services further. The company’s growth comes as global interest in sustainable food production continues to rise.

The recognition at the Africa Sustainable Futures Awards highlights how technology-led financing can drive inclusive growth. “This win is not just ours, it belongs to every farmer using our platform to grow their livelihood,” the company said in a statement.

With its expanding network and commitment to financial inclusion, Hello Tractor continues to show how smart mechanisation can reshape smallholder farming across Africa.

Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World HERE.