TAFE’s rent-free tractors help small farmers

Tractors Farm Equipment (TAFE), India’s second biggest tractor maker, which introduced a free tractor rental service in Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh has helped thousands of lockdownimpacted farmers cultivate over 100,000 acres in this crucial cropping season.

The company had launched its JFarm Services free tractor rental scheme from April 1 for a period of 90 days and spanning till June 30.

“The scheme received an overwhelming response from thousands of farmers and within 60 days of its implementation, over 100, 000 acres have been cultivated,” the company said.

TAFE aimed to rescue farmers from the economic implications of Covid-19 and mitigate the impact of the coronavirus threat on farming operations of small and marginal farmers during the critical Rabi harvest and Kharif preparation season.

TAFE launched the JFarm Services free tractor rental scheme with 18,000 Massey Ferguson and Eicher Tractor customers, and about 75,000 farm implement owners, to offer implements like the cultivator, rotary tiller, duck-foot cultivator, disc plough, disc harrow, mould board plough, thresher and several others.

More than 38,900 Massey

Ferguson and Eicher Tractors and 1,06,500 implements were made available on rent. But TAFE paid the rent money to farmers who rented the tractors.

“Because of Corona lockdown, farmers were not able to venture out looking for tractors on rent. During this time, TAFE and the Tamil Nadu government came to our rescue by providing tractors for free, which otherwise would have cost me Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000,” Kumarasami, a farmer from Virudhunagar district in Tamil Nadu, said.