All-wheel-drive tractors to catch farmers' fancy

On display in 10th edition of CII-Agro-Tech

All-wheel-drive tractors are all set to catch the fancy of farmers, much in line with similar version passenger car vehicles and luxury cars.

Representatives of different tractor manufacturers, who were in Chandigarh to participate in the bi-annual farm show, Agro Tech, organised by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), say among new models of tractors displayed in the 10th edition of CII-Agro-Tech, four-wheel-drive tractors are also in the offing.

N S Dhiman, Deputy General manger(DGM), Punjab based International Tractor Limited maker of Sonalika brand of tractors, says of the three new tractors displayed by ITL in CII-Agrotech, they had four wheel drive tractor, on display. According to Dhiman the four-wheel tractor, priced at Rs 6.90 lakh (50 HP), has evoked a good response.

 

Similarly R Sharma, Business Improvement Manger, Escorts Limited makers of Farmtrac, Powertrac and Escort brand tractors said they had displayed three new models each of Farmtrac and Powertrac range in the farm show. Among new models of Escorts on display was also four wheel drive tractor priced at Rs 9.31 lakhs (65 HP). Sharma says farmers in Punjab are quiet progressive and want to adopt the latest technology first.

The tractor manufacturers say farmers generally after visiting their relatives overseas and observing machinery in that country , demand the same from manufacturers here in India.

The demand for four-wheel-drive tractors, say manufacturers, generally comes from farmers having good land holdings as their purchase price is invariably higher than that of other tractors. Regional officials from farm equipment vertical of Mahindra and Mahindra Limited , which is displaying three new range of tractors, say they also have four wheel drive tractor with AC fitted cabin, costing Rs 19 lakh (85 HP).

As per officials of M&M the four wheel drive tractor is more powerful, offering more traction which leads to less slippage especially when the fields are wet, during monsoon period.

New Holland Fiat India which was selling four wheel drive tractors to Indian consumers in 90 HP category, has also launched the all wheel drive option in 40-50HP category, a first in India by any tractor company, according to company officials. Generally the all wheel drive tractors, considered to be more powerful, are used by dairy farmers, as per New Holland Fiat officials.

Explaining this, they added as cropping pattern has changed, dairy farmers have less time to collect silage, fodder for their milch animals. Hence four wheel tractors which are more powerful are preferred choice.

Indo farm Equipment Limited, another tractor manufacturer, also displayed their four wheel drive tractors in the farm show. Anshul Khadwalia, Executive vice President-sales and Marketing, Indo farm Equipment Limited , says the four wheel drive tractors are generally for bigger farmers who prefer to drive tractors themselves.