In an attempt to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 on small and marginal farmers of Tamil Nadu and support the farming community during the crucial rabi cropping season, TAFE (Tractors and Farm Equipment), under its CSR initiative, announced a free tractor rental scheme through its JFarm Services platform on the Uzhavan App, for 90 days starting April 1. This scheme will be available across 30 districts of Tamil Nadu. 

TAFE has brought together a large group of its Massey Ferguson and Eicher tractors and will offer over 4,400 tractors and 10,500 implements on a free of cost rental basis. The renters hiring out Massey Ferguson, Eicher Tractors and implements will be paid directly by the company. 

TAFE is well equipped to handle all the operational aspects of implementing the scheme across the State using its existing JFarm Services digital platform on the Uzhavan app, toll-free helpline 1800-4200-100, as well as various on-ground touchpoints like its field officers, dealer network etc. across the state, who are already working closely with the farming community of Tamil Nadu. 

Mallika Srinivasan, chairman and managing director, TAFE said: “The rabi season is crucial to sustain the livelihoods of the farmers of Tamil Nadu. At this crucial juncture, TAFE seeks to do its best to support the small and marginal farmers of the state to tide over the crisis caused by Covid-19 by offering free rental services of Massey Ferguson and Eicher tractors. We commend the Tamil Nadu Government and its administration for their extraordinary efforts in ensuring the effective deployment of all health and administrative initiatives to support all sections of society”. 

Gagandeep Singh Bedi (IAS), Agriculture Production Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu state government added that, “My compliments to Tractors and Farm Equipment (TAFE) for coming out with the free of cost tractor rental offer to support the small and marginal farmers of Tamil Nadu during this cropping season, especially at this time of distress due to Covid-19. The Government of Tamil Nadu welcomes this timely initiative and is happy to partner with TAFE as this will be of immense help to several needy farmers in the state”.

TAFE has requested the advisory and administrative support of the Department of Agriculture, Government of Tamil Nadu, and the district level officials to ensure small and marginal farmers are able to avail the offer in a timely manner.  

Dynamics of JFarm initiative
TAFE established JFarm India in Chennai, Tamil Nadu in 1964 with an objective of empowering farmers with advanced farm technologies to increase farm productivity and meet India’s growing food demands. JFarm focuses on sustainable agriculture, adapting existing technologies in farming for local farming conditions and sharing this knowledge with farmers.

Small and marginal farmers, who hold about 85% of the land holdings in India may not be able to afford ownership of tractors or implements. JFarm Services bridge this gap by connecting these farmers with tractor and equipment owners through its Farmer-2-Farmer platform.

TAFE is the world’s third largest tractor manufacturer and second largest in India by volumes with an annual sale of about 150,000 tractors. It is also one of the leading exporters of tractors from India with a turnover in excess of Rs 93 billion (Rs 9300 crore).

TAFE manufactures a range of tractors, in both the air-cooled and water-cooled platforms, and markets them under its four brands - Massey Ferguson, TAFE, Eicher, and the recently acquired Serbian tractor and agricultural equipment brand - Industrija Masina i Traktora (IMT). TAFE’s products and services are present in over 100 countries across the world, including many in Europe and the Americas.