The Hindu Business Line : TAFE to unveil 25 hp tractors soon; targets North

THE Chennai-based Tractors and Farm Equipment Ltd (TAFE), the flagship company of the Amalgamation group, is gearing up for a foray into the less than 30 hp tractor segment in the next 3-4 months with a 25 hp tractor.

The company said the tractors, mainly for use in North India, would give it a presence in the segment, which has a market of 40,0000-50,000 units annually. The company, whichalso makes customised tractors, said it planned a string of launches for various niche segments this year.

The company will also be entering the accessories business for tractors where it plans to launch products with applications in picking and spraying in orchards.

TAFE, meanwhile, will launch two made-to-suit tractors for Maharashtra's heavy soil conditions and its large population of orchard owning farmers. The Sarjaa, a specially designed tractor for the State's heavy and black soil belts, combines a 50 hp engine with a 70 hp rear and has a heavy duty transmission and gear box.

Mr T.R. Kesavan, Vice-President, Marketing, told newspersons that the company has extensively tested the tractors over the last one year in markets in the State. ``The product has proven to give 12-15 per cent savings in fuel costs and we have orders for at least fifty deliveries beginning tomorrow.''

The company hopes to sell between 1,000 and 1,500 unitsnext year in markets like Ahmednagar, Pune, Satara, Kolhapur, Aurangabad, Beed, Jalgaon and Dhulia.

TAFE has also launched the Orchard Plus, a heavy-duty 30 hp tractor in the size of a small tractor, which can successfully manoeuvre itself in orchards.

Mr Kesavan said the tractors will particularly be useful for the State's vineyard owners.

``We expect to sell approximately 600 units next year,'' he said.

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