The Hindu Business Line : VST launches Chinese power tillers — Demand for cheaper products on the rise

At the launch of the imported Dragon power tillers here on Thursday, Mr B. C. S. Iyengar, Vice-President, Commercial, VST Tillers, said the tillers are made by Wuxi Taihu Tractor Co Ltd of China. The introductory price is Rs 66,000 for the 14-HP tiller, which is cheaper than its equivalents that are imported and sold here.

VST has forayed into importing and marketing to tap the economy segment. The demand for cheaper tillers from China seems to be growing. A few hundred tillers were imported 7-8 years back when the trend started, but now about 3,000 imported tillers are being sold, said Mr Iyengar.

With a three-decade experience in manufacturing power tillers and a wide marketing and servicing network, VST Tillers would back the Chinese product. Most other importers lack this infrastructure and the buyers suffer, Mr Iyengar said.

Indian brands are able to hold their own because of their better quality. For instance, VST Tillers' Shakthi brand has a 60 per cent market share. The quality of the Chinese tillers will be better than other imported equivalents, he said. Mr Iyengar estimates the annual demand for tillers at around 20,000. The demand for agriculture equipment such as tillers and transplanters is rising due to the non-availability of labour in agriculture.

VST Tillers manufactures tillers and tractors at its facility near Bangalore and also markets rice transplanters and combine-harvesters.

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