TAFE’s Free Tractor Rental Scheme Helps Small Farmers of Rajasthan Cultivate Over 55,000 Acres

• Over 90,000 hours of free tractor and farm implement rental services provided

September 2021 | Rajasthan: TAFE’s Free Tractor Rental Scheme under its popular JFarm Services platform, benefitted several thousands of small and masginal farmers across Rajasthan. The scheme helped the farmers to save their crops and carry on with their agricultural operations in an uninterrupted manner, despite the severe distress caused by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns. JFarm Services’ Free Tractor Rental Scheme received widespread popularity and an overwhelming response from the farming community, and within 60 days, 90,000 hours of free tractor and farm implement rental services were provided, throughout Rajasthan.

TAFE offered its 47,000 Massey Ferguson and Eicher tractors and 1,37,000 implements on a “free-of-cost” rental basis to marginal farmers owning less than 1 Hectare / 2.5 Acres. During the rental scheme for 60 days, between June to July 2021, 55,000 acres were serviced free of cost. High-demand implements like cultivator, disc harrow, seed drill, disc plough and mouldboard plough were widely used by farmers under the scheme.

This CSR initiative by TAFE aimed to support the farming community from the economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and to help the small and marginal farmers during the critical Rabi harvest and Kharif preparation season.

Shri. Lalchand Kataria, Hon. Minister for Agriculture, Government of Rajasthan, said, “TAFE’s Free Tractor Rental Scheme received a very encouraging response from the farming community, as it helped them prepare and sow the fields for the Kharif crops. The Free Tractor Rental Scheme helped the farmers with their agricultural operations and in earning an additional income. I thank the entire TAFE team for providing service to the farmers amidst the COVID crisis. It is their hard work and support, that made it possible to reach out to the farmers in such critical times. I sincerely hope that TAFE will continue to support the farmers with equal fervour in the time of need, in the future as well.”

Dr. Om Prakash (IAS) Agriculture Commissioner, Government of Rajasthan, said, “TAFE has taken concrete steps, keeping in mind the interest of the farmers, in its efforts to face the challenges of the second wave of COVID 19 pandemic. More than 90,000 hours of free service has been provided in the state from June 1 - July 31, 2021, by TAFE through its  JFarm Service App and platform for free tractor and agricultural machinery rental scheme, which was very successful in providing relief to the small farmers of the state amid the Corona pandemic. TAFE - JFarm Services’ efforts are quite commendable. The farming community is very happy with the Free Tractor Rental Scheme.”

Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman & Managing Director - TAFE, said, “TAFE thanks the Government of Rajasthan for all the support provided in the JFarm Services - Free Tractor Rental Scheme that we offered to the small farmers of Rajasthan. We have been given an opportunity to serve the small and marginal farmers at this critical juncture, and at the same time, play a role in enhancing the revenue of farmers through a direct benefit system, which has been welcomed by both, the renter farmers and the small farmers.”

TAFE successfully implemented this scheme for the small and marginal farmers with the administrative support from the Department of Agriculture, Government of Rajasthan. With this unique and noble initiative, TAFE aspires to uplift the Indian farming community by supporting their livelihood and reaffirms its commitment and solidarity towards the farmers of Rajasthan.

About 'JFarm' and 'JFarm Services':  JFarmServices.in

TAFE established JFarm India in Chennai, Tamil Nadu in 1964 with an objective of empowering farmers with advanced farm technologies to increase farm productivity and meet India’s growing food demands. Over the years, JFarm focuses on sustainable agriculture, adapting existing technologies in farming for local farming conditions and sharing this knowledge with farmers.

JFarm Services is an initiative by TAFE to increase easy access to farm mechanization solutions through rental of tractors and farm equipment for small and large farms, localized weather forecast, latest mandi prices, agri-news alerts and advisory.

Small and marginal farmers, who hold about 85% of the land holdings in India may not be able to afford ownership of tractors or implements. JFarm Services bridges this gap by connecting these farmers with tractor and equipment owners through its Farmer-2-Farmer platform. Farmers can explore and book nearby equipment through: https://bit.ly/JFSAppLite

JFarm Services since its creation has impacted the lives of over 30 Lakh farmers across 16 states in India since its inception. Currently, JFarm Services (JFS) operates in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh (MP), Uttar Pradesh (UP), Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Assam - making farm mechanization viable and affordable to all.