How the next generation of leaders in the tractor industry is shaping India

20 Mar, 2025

The tractor sector goes beyond just being an industry; it is vital to India's agricultural economy. The industry is long dominated by experienced leaders like Mr. Har Prasad Nanda (the founder of Escorts), Mr. S. Anantharamakrishnan (the founder of TAFE) and Mr. Lachman Dass Mittal (the founder of Sonalika Group). The groundwork done by them is seeing phenomenal transformation. 

The next generation of leaders in India is bringing together the wisdom of the elders and the imagination of the youth to propel agricultural mechanization to new heights. Watch these 2nd generation leaders transform the tractor industry in the coming years.

Lakshmi Venu: The Driving Force behind Tractor Initiative TAFE

A name connected with intelligence, Lakshmi Venu, has been quite valuable in guiding the family-owned company ahead. She is inspiring the young generations by handling several key positions such as the Managing Director of Sundaram Clayton and the Vice Chairman of TAFE Motors and Tractors Limited. 

Lakshmi has been welcoming change while honoring the legacy of her parents Mr. Venu Srinivasan (Chairman, TVS Motors) and Mrs. Mallika Srinivasan (MD, TAFE). Her emphasis on eco-friendly and better production processes keeps the Indian tractor sector competitive worldwide. She embodies modern Indian leadership—flexible, tenacious, and market-savvy.

Mittal Brothers: Guiding Sonalika with Vision

The Mittal brothers, grandsons of the legendary Mr. L.D. Mittal, Mr. Raman Mittal, Mr. Sushant Sagar Mittal, and Mr. Rahul Mittal, are the next-generation leading Sonalika Tractors. Their leadership focuses on affordable automation solutions that boost farming output.

Business-savvy Mr. Raman Mittal emphasizes design and engineering innovation. Being the Joint Managing Director of the Sonalika group he made the company a comprehensive agriculture solution provider on the global platform.

At the same time, Mr. Sushant and Mr. Rahul ensure global reach and operational competence. Mr. Sushant leads the company to be the No.1 tractor brand in 4 countries and Sonalika's achievement under the name of SOLIS worldwide.

Mr. Rahul helped turn the company into one of the Indian tractor brands with a strong presence in 140+ countries and the only Indian brand that has a presence in 35 European countries. 

Navya Naveli Nanda - Driving Escorts Kubota Forward

Navya, the young heir of the Nanda Family, is rewriting the family legacy by combining innovation with the heritage that she has acquired from her father Mr. Nikhil Nanda (Chairman & MD, Escorts Kubota Limited). She is helping Escorts Kubota as a Junior Consultant by emphasizing efficiency, technology, and environmental sensitivity.

She has recently enrolled in the Blended Post Graduate Programme (BPGP) at IIM Ahmedabad. By acquiring more innovative marketing skills, Navya will soon become Escorts Kubota's next-generation leader by driving modernization and global competitiveness.

A Common Vision: Empowering Farmers

The same objective of empowering farmers via easily available and sophisticated technology drives this new generation of leaders together. They are actively developing solutions to lower manual labour, boost yield, and make Indian agriculture globally competitive.

Their leadership also shows how the tractor sector interacts with farmers—moving from a transaction-based strategy to developing long-term connections. Using digital technologies, funding choices, and training programs, these leaders are building a whole new ecosystem for Indian farmers.

What Does it Mean for India?

Setting standards in society as well as in business is what the second generation of the tractor industry is doing. They are silently revolutionizing themselves by matching their ambitions with those of India for agriculture.

Their emphasis on sustainability, creativity, and inclusiveness guarantees that the tractor sector stays a pillar of India's development narrative. Rising youthful leaders are not only influencing a more prosperous industry but also a stronger, self-reliant India.