Powering Productivity for Africa’s Small Farms
Manual farming is slow, expensive, and draining. Cradle is working to solve this through affordable, on-demand mechanization that turns weeks of labor into hours of work, helping farmers save time, cut costs and boost yields.
Cradle provides complete on-demand farming services. We create mechanization access for small-scale farmers, delivering the right machines, operated by trained local teams, exactly when farmers need them.
Land Preparation
We handle land preparation using compact mechanized equipment. Fields that take weeks of manual labor are ready in hours. The result is faster planting, better soil consistency, and less stress managing labor.
Extension Services
We work with agricultural experts and local extension officers to provide practical training covering Crop planning, Input timing and quantity, Pest and disease control and water management.
Cost
Affordable access to machines and operators. Farmers pay the service, without owning expensive equipment.
Time
Jobs that take days with hand tools are finished in hours. Faster turnaround means farmers focus on the next step.
Effort
Backbreaking labor is replaced with reliable mechanization. Farmers save their energy while boosting productivity.
Our Results
3
Months in Operation
20
Hectares farmed
6
Employees
“The horse power is perfect to work on tough land.”
Mrs. Beatha
Mareba Farmer and Cooperative President
“This is perfect because it will help farmers not miss the very short planting window in Bugesera”
Pacifique
Sector Agronomist
“You are charging less for a hectare than I would pay people for half a hectare!”
Mr. Joseph
Mareba's Largest Farmer
Efficient Resource Utilization
Our compact farming machines, delivered through a Farming-as-a-Service model, enable more productive use of land, water, energy, and capital. By replacing individual equipment ownership with shared, on-demand access, we help farmers reduce waste, cut overhead, and scale operations more efficiently. Our approach makes high-performance tools accessible to more growers, maximizing output while minimizing input.
Economic Impact
Cradle has so far directly served over 15 hectares of farmland, delivering measurable efficiencies to smallholder farmers. Our model enables up to 20% cost savings and 80% time savings, allowing farmers to achieve more with less. With 30% gross margins, our operations are financially sustainable and poised for scalable growth, ensuring long-term value for both our stakeholders and the communities we serve.
Social Impact
Through our operations, we have trained 3 machine operators, created 2 full-time and 3 part-time jobs and continue to support livelihoods across rural communities. By improving access to mechanized services, Cradle contributes to better food security, increased household incomes, and stronger resilience for smallholder farmers. We see each job and each service rendered as a step toward transforming agriculture as an inclusive sector.
Environmental Impact
With a single machine, Cradle has efficiently served 15 hectares, showcasing the power of shared-use models in reducing the environmental footprint of mechanization. By minimizing the need for individual machine ownership, we lower carbon emissions and resource duplication. Our model also supports regenerative soil health by promoting the use of harvest waste as organic manure, reducing chemical dependence and helping to sequester carbon in the soil.
Our Team
Our team brings expertise in mechanization, public-private partnerships, and project management. We work alongside farmers, letting the field guide our solutions and apply our experience to bring scalable solutions. Committed for the long haul, we are transforming farming in Africa with the farmers who power it.
Modernize Farming
Scale Productivity
Unlock Opportunities
© Copyright. All rights reserved.
Our Partners