Ranchi: A newly developed compact, affordable, and easily maneuverable tractor catering to small and marginal farmers could help them increase agricultural productivity while keeping costs low. An MSME has planned to set up a manufacturing plant for mass production of these tractors for supply to farmers.
Marginal and small farmers comprise over 80% of cultivators in India. A large population of them still depend on bullock-driven farming, where operational costs, maintenance costs, and poor returns pose significant challenges. Though power tillers are replacing bullock-driven ploughs, they are cumbersome to operate. Tractors, on the other hand, are unsuitable for small farmers and unaffordable for most.
To address these challenges, CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-CMERI) has developed a compact, affordable, and easily maneuverable tractor of low horsepower range to meet the requirements of marginal and small farmers, with support from the SEED Division of DST.
They have promoted the technology among several existing SHGs, and efforts were made to create new SHGs particularly for this technology. CSIR-CMERI is also discussing licensing it to local companies for large-scale manufacturing so that the benefits can reach the local farmers.
The tractor has been developed with a 9 hp diesel engine with 8 forward and 2 reverse speeds, PTO with 6 splines @540 rpm. The total weight of the tractor is around 450kg, having front and rear wheel sizes of 4.5-10 and 6-16 respectively. The wheelbase, ground clearance, and turning radius are 1200 mm, 255mm, and 1.75m respectively.
It can help speed up farming, completing it in a few hours compared to several days needed with a bullock cart, and also reduces capital and maintenance costs for farmers.
Hence, the affordable compact tractor could replace the bullock-driven plough for small and marginal farmers.
The technology was demonstrated in nearby villages and to various manufacturers. A Ranchi-based MSME has shown interest in manufacturing it by setting up a plant for mass production of the tractor. They plan to supply the developed tractor to farmers through different state government tenders at subsidised rates. /BI
