TAFE to invest around Rs 970 cr in Rajasthan

The company plans to set up an advanced agri-research centre and six custom hiring centres in the state

Chennai-based Tractors and Farm Equipment Ltd (TAFE) is planning to invest around Rs 970 crore for its two initiatives related to farm productivity in Rajasthan. 

Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman and CEO of India’s second largest tractor manufacturer TAFE, said that the company has signed a deal to set up an advanced agri-research centre in collaboration with the state government. It has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to set up custom hiring centres in six zones across the state. 

The company announced its plans  at the Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet (GRAM) 2016. 

JFarm in Rajasthan is an advanced model of  TAFE’s agri-research centre in Chennai with a special focus on sustainable agriculture, existing adaptive technologies for local farming conditions. 

Spread across an area of 50 acres, the JFarm Rajasthan will consist of an adaptive research farm, a farm skills development centre and hi-tech demonstration and customer experience centres at Bhawanimandi and Jhalawar, said the company.

According to TAFE's chiarman, the center will showcase latest agronomy and farming practices, trends in production, crop protection practices and processing of crops, besides highlighting farm mechanisation trends and their applicability in India. 

Srinivasan added, “the two initiatives- custom hiring centres and the centre of excellence in the form of JFarm Rajasthan- in a five year period involves an estimated total outlay of Rs. 970 crores in the agri sector of Rajasthan."

The company further hopes to partner with 900 farmer entrepreneurs and create 4000 jobs, besides touching the lives of 500,000 farmers.