TAFE and ICRISAT Establish Agricultural Research Center in Hyderabad

Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited (TAFE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) on July 11, 2025, to establish the "JFarm Adaptive Agriculture Research & Extension Centre" at ICRISAT's campus in Patancheru, Hyderabad. The partnership between the world's largest tractor manufacturer and the international agricultural research organization aims to drive innovation in mechanized farming across India and the Global South.

The research center will combine ICRISAT's agricultural innovations, including machine-harvestable chickpea varieties, with TAFE's farm mechanization expertise to validate research across diverse crops and ecological conditions. The facility will focus on promoting gender and social inclusion while advancing sustainable agricultural practices.

TAFE established JFarm in 1964 as a corporate social responsibility initiative to empower farmers through research-driven solutions and training. The company has previously expanded with centers in Bhawanimandi in 2016 and through partnerships with PJTSAU in Telangana (2019) and VNMKV in Maharashtra (2023). The current collaboration operates under ICRISAT's Centre of Excellence for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture.

The center will educate farmers on sustainable agriculture practices, emphasizing soil conservation and efficient water use. It will promote scale-appropriate mechanization with special focus on crop-residue processing and encourage agricultural service models and entrepreneurship. The facility will demonstrate integrated mechanization models and provide training for tractor and equipment operation and servicing.

The center will showcase JFarm Services' Farmer-to-Farmer Digital Custom Hiring model, enabling mechanization access without equipment ownership. It will serve as a platform connecting industry experts, start-ups, institutions, and farmers for knowledge exchange and technology transfer.

"Our goal is to implement precision agriculture while safeguarding land and water resources. We have a deep understanding of the diverse needs of the farming community; we recognize and believe that knowledge-sharing is key to widespread adoption of mechanization. With ICRISAT's expertise, we are confident in effectively disseminating these advancements to the last-mile farmer," said Dr. T R Kesavan, Group President and TAFE Board member.

"Mechanization is pivotal in modern agriculture, and without progress in this area, we cannot achieve the goal of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India). This collaboration goes beyond just promoting mechanization, it's about advancing research to reduce chemical inputs, labor dependency, and environmental impact. Our vision extends beyond India; we aim to scale these innovations across Africa," added Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT.

TAFE, incorporated in 1960 in Chennai, ranks as the second-largest tractor manufacturer in India by volume, selling over 180,000 tractors annually. The company operates through four brands - Massey Ferguson India, TAFE, Eicher Tractors, and IMT - supported by over 1,600 dealers and exports to more than 80 countries.

ICRISAT works to develop dryland farming and agri-food systems for 2.1 billion people in Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and other regions affected by hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and environmental degradation.