LifeTrac Tech, GRATIS Foundation unveil locally assembled tractor to boost farm mechanisation
LifeTrac Tech Limited and GRATIS Foundation have unveiled the LifeTrac 6G tractor prototype, a locally fabricated machine aimed at improving agricultural mechanisation and strengthening Ghana’s capacity to manufacture and maintain its own farm equipment. The tractor was launched at the GRATIS Foundation Technology Solution Centre in Tema, following a partnership between the two institutions to […]
The LifeTrac Tech Limited and GRATIS Foundation have showcased the LifeTrac 6G tractor prototype, a locally built machine designed to improve agricultural mechanization and bolster Ghana's capability to manufacture and maintain its own farm equipment. The tractor's unveiling took place at the GRATIS Foundation Technology Solution Centre in Tema, following a collaboration between the two entities to adapt and produce agricultural machinery domestically.
LifeTrac Group Inc.'s President and LifeTrac Tech Limited, John Duse Stager, explained that the initiative tackles the issues farmers encounter, such as delivery delays, frequent mechanical failures, and the scarcity of spare parts. He emphasized that farmers require machinery that can be maintained locally, offering more than merely an imported machine.
The LifeTrac 6G tractor is built upon three principles: open engineering knowledge, local production, and a Machine-as-a-Service model. The latter allows smallholder farmers and cooperatives to access mechanized services without the financial burden of purchasing and maintaining a tractor, while businesses preferring ownership can buy the equipment outright.
The tractor, produced at the GRATIS Foundation's Tema facility, is engineered to aid in land preparation and material handling, with attachments like a plough, rototiller, and front loader. Additionally, it has a detachable PowerCube hydraulic system, which can be employed to drive other productive machines like brick presses and metalworking tools during the off-season.
Stager affirmed that the pilot unit passed its functional drive test on August 6, 2026, and successful loader trials in September highlighted its efficiency in collecting, lifting, carrying, and discharging heavy materials. The project aims to enhance Ghana's ability to design, maintain, and improve the machinery utilized by its farmers, signifying manufacturing independence by having engineering drawings, skills, tooling, and the capacity to address local issues.
GRATIS Foundation CEO, Dr. Isaac Adaebsch, stated that the institution fabricated the tractor's steel structure and other essential components, with over 15 technicians involved in the process.
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