New Delhi [India], Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), along with Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), have created a small, affordable and easy-to-use tractor for small and marginal farmers, said the Ministry of Science and Technology on Friday.
The ministry added that the tractor was developed with the support of the SEED (Science for Equity Empowerment and Development) Division of the Department of Science and Technology.
This new tractor aims to help smallholder farmers, who make up more than 80 percent of farmers in India. Many of these farmers still use oxen for farming, which is expensive and inefficient. While electric cultivators are becoming more common, they are difficult to use. Traditional tractors are too expensive and not suitable for small farms.
"It can help speed up farming, finish it in a few hours compared to several days needed by bullock cart, and also reduce farmers' capital and maintenance costs," the ministry said.
An MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise) plans to set up a factory to produce these tractors for farmers. The government is promoting this technology among existing and new Self Help Groups (SHGs). CSIR-CMERI is also looking to license the technology to local companies for large-scale manufacturing so that more farmers can benefit.
The tractor has a 9 horsepower diesel engine, with 8 forward and 2 reverse speeds. It weighs about 450 kg and has a wheelbase of 1,200 mm, a ground clearance of 255 mm and a turning radius of 1.75 meters. This tractor can help small farmers complete their farming tasks in a few hours, compared to several days using oxen, and reduce their costs.
The ministry claimed that a Ranchi-based MSME is interested in setting up a plant for mass production and plans to supply the tractors to farmers through state government tenders at subsidized prices.
The ministry added that the tractor was developed with the support of the SEED (Science for Equity Empowerment and Development) Division of the Department of Science and Technology.
This new tractor aims to help smallholder farmers, who make up more than 80 percent of farmers in India. Many of these farmers still use oxen for farming, which is expensive and inefficient. While electric cultivators are becoming more common, they are difficult to use. Traditional tractors are too expensive and not suitable for small farms.
"It can help speed up farming, finish it in a few hours compared to several days needed by bullock cart, and also reduce farmers' capital and maintenance costs," the ministry said.
An MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise) plans to set up a factory to produce these tractors for farmers. The government is promoting this technology among existing and new Self Help Groups (SHGs). CSIR-CMERI is also looking to license the technology to local companies for large-scale manufacturing so that more farmers can benefit.
The tractor has a 9 horsepower diesel engine, with 8 forward and 2 reverse speeds. It weighs about 450 kg and has a wheelbase of 1,200 mm, a ground clearance of 255 mm and a turning radius of 1.75 meters. This tractor can help small farmers complete their farming tasks in a few hours, compared to several days using oxen, and reduce their costs.
The ministry claimed that a Ranchi-based MSME is interested in setting up a plant for mass production and plans to supply the tractors to farmers through state government tenders at subsidized prices.
