TAFE cultivates 100,000 acres free for small farmers during COVID-19

TAFE - Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited, India’s second and world’s third largest tractor manufacturer by volumes, had launched a Free Tractor Rental Service for farmers in Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh from April 1, 2020, for a period of 90 days spanning till June 30, 2020, through its JFarm Services platform. The scheme received an overwhelming response from the farming community and within 60 days of its implementation, over 100,000 acres have been cultivated and rental service has been provided benefitting thousands of farmers in this crucial cropping season.
 
This CSR initiative by TAFE aimed to rescue the farming community from the economic implications of COVID-19, and mitigate the impact of the Coronavirus threat on farming operations of small and marginal farmers during the critical Rabi harvest and Kharif preparation season. 

TAFE launched the JFarm Services free tractor rental scheme with 18,000 Massey Ferguson and Eicher Tractor customers, and about 75,000 farm implement owners, to offer implements like the cultivator, rotary tiller, duck-foot cultivator, disc plough, disc harrow, mould board plough, thresher and several others. Owing to popular demand, the JFarm services platform saw an increase in the registrations to 38,900 Massey Ferguson and Eicher Tractors and 1,06,500 implements available on rent.

TAFE successfully implemented this free tractor rental scheme for the small and marginal farmers with the administrative support of the respective state governments from the Agriculture Departments of Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The benefit received by JFarm Services through tractor rental has been directly given to the farmers by TAFE. This has considerably helped in enhancing the revenue of tractor owners and has been welcomed by both, the owners and the small farmers. 

Thiru. Gagandeep Singh Bedi (IAS), Agriculture Production Commissioner & Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Government of Tamil Nadu, said “State Government sincerely appreciates the free rental scheme by TAFE’s JFarm Services platform which is integrated to the Uzhavan App. At a point in time wherein farmers are severely affected due to the COVID-19 crisis, the scheme is of great support, especially for the small and marginal farmers, by reducing their financial distress during this cropping season. During my recent interaction with the farmers of the delta region, I was pleased to hear a very happy feedback from the farmers about the timely CSR efforts of TAFE in partnership with the Government.”

Kumarasami, a farmer from Virudhunagar district in Tamil Nadu says, “Because of Corona lockdown, farmers were not able to venture out, looking for tractors on rent. During this time, TAFE and the Tamil Nadu government came to our rescue by providing tractors to carry out our farm operations for free, which otherwise would have costed us Rs. 4000 - 5000. This free rental scheme by TAFE is a blessing for small farmers like me, and we are happy and look forward to the new season.” Another farmer, Vijai Kumar from Kamalapuram, Salem, says, “Due to Corona, the economic well-being of farmers was deeply affected. During such time, TAFE’s JFarm Services and TN Govt’s Uzhavan aided us through the free tractor rental scheme. It supported me immensely in getting my farm ready for sowing and helped me and several other farmers save money.”

Govindasamy, a farmer and owner of two Massey Ferguson tractors, who hails from Mallur in Ariyalur district of Tamil Nadu and rented out his tractors under the free rental scheme says, “This is the first time any company has launched a unique scheme like this for the farmers. I would like to thank Mallika Srinivasan (Chairman & Managing Director – TAFE) on behalf of all the farmers from my area. As a TAFE customer for more than 30 years, me and family are thankful to TAFE for this kind gesture.”Annadurai, another farmer and an Eicher Tractor owner from Tiruvannamalai, says, “I registered on the JFarm Services App through my dealer and was immediately connected to over 150 farmers, which enabled me to provide 300 hours of tractor service. The farmers were very thankful to us and I would like to take this opportunity to appreciate TAFE for the wonderful service to the farmers of Tamil Nadu."