JOIN USA tiny, cheap and fuel-efficient tractor is set to come to the aid of thousands of Indian farmers, who for generations have been employing bullocks to till their land.
Engineers at the Durgapur-based Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute have developed a little tractor with a turning radius of 2 metre making it an ideal tool for ploughing small patches of land. It has a 12 horse power engine and priced at Rs 1.75 to Rs 2 lakh.
In comparison, tractors available in the market need 4 metre for turning because of which they cannot be used in small land holdings. Most of the tractors are bigger and expensive. Moreover, while the bigger tractors require 4-5 litres of diesel every hour, the little one thrives on 1-1.5 litre.
Named KrishiShakti, the CMERI tractor underwent rigorous testing at the Central Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institute, Budhni, which completed earlier this month. It has received certification under the Central Motor Vehicle’s Rule and is ready for production.
Way back in 2009, the institute transferred the technology to three companies. One of them, Singha Components in Howrah, showed interest. Several prototypes were made for testing.
“Developing smaller hydraulic system, gear boxes and even farm implements took few years as all of them required to be certified separately before the tractor undergoes the certification procedure. Also the engine were tested at the Automotive Research Association of India facility in Pune for eight months,” Palash Kumar Maji, one of the engineers associated with the tractor told Deccan Herald.
As the average land holding of the small Indian farmer does not exceed even one hectare, it is difficult for the average Indian farmer to afford mechanised farming utilising standard tractors of 35 hp and above ratings, which, in turn, tells upon the productivity and per unit yield.