TAFE’s JFarm & ICRISAT Collaborate to launch Agri-Research Hub in Hyderabad

India, July 15, 2025: Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited (TAFE), one of the largest tractor manufacturers in the world and a second largest in India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to establish the “JFarm Adaptive Agriculture Research & Extension Centre” at the ICRISAT campus in Patancheru, Hyderabad on 11 July 2025.

TAFE inaugurated JFarm in 1964 as a CSR initiative committed to empowering farmers through research-driven solutions and training. With expansions in Bhawanimandi (2016), and through public–private partnerships, JFarm established the ‘JFarm and Product Training Centre’ with PJTSAU, Telangana (2019) and the ‘JFarm and Mechanisation Centre’ with VNMKV, Maharashtra (2023). Taking this vision global, TAFE has partnered with ICRISAT under the Centre of Excellence for South–South Cooperation in Agriculture (ISSCA) to drive innovation exchange and agri-development across the Global South.

The JFarm Adaptive Research Center at Hyderabad, will leverage ICRISAT’s ground breaking innovations such as the machine-harvestable chickpea with TAFE’s farm-mechanization expertise to validate research across diverse ecologies and crops, while championing gender and social inclusion. The partnership is committed to accelerating India’s transition to sustainable, fully mechanized agriculture and extending these advances throughout the Global South. 

The Centre will focus on educating farmers on sustainable agriculture practices, focusing on soil conservation and efficient water use through dedicated infrastructure. It will promote scale-appropriate mechanization in agriculture, with special emphasis on crop-residue processing. It aims to encourage farmers toward agricultural service models and entrepreneurship, and facilitate lab-to-land transfer of appropriate agro-technologies. The centre will also demonstrate integrated mechanization models and provide training to farmers in the operation and servicing of tractors, equipment, and machinery. It will showcase the successful Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Digital Custom Hiring model of JFarm Services, enabling mechanization access without equipment ownership. Additionally, the centre will act as a platform bringing together industry experts, start-ups, institutions, and farmers.

Speaking about the event, Dr. T R Kesavan, Group President and a member of TAFE’s Board, said, “Our goal is to implement precision agriculture while safeguarding land and water resources. We have a deep understanding of the diverse needs of the farming community; we recognize and believe that knowledge-sharing is key to widespread adoption of mechanization. With ICRISAT’s expertise, we are confident in effectively disseminating these advancements to the last-mile farmer.”

Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT, added, “Mechanization is pivotal in modern agriculture, and without progress in this area, we cannot achieve the goal of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India). This collaboration goes beyond just promoting mechanization, it’s about advancing research to reduce chemical inputs, labor dependency, and environmental impact. Our vision extends beyond India; we aim to scale these innovations across Africa.”

About TAFE: 

TAFE - Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited, an Indian tractor major incorporated in 1960 in Chennai, India. As one of the largest tractor manufacturers in the world and the second-largest in India by volume, TAFE sells over 180,000 tractors annually. TAFE has earned the trust of customers through its range of products, which are widely acclaimed for their quality and low cost of operation. A strong distribution network of over 1,600 dealers effectively supports TAFE’s four iconic tractor brands - Massey Ferguson India, TAFE, Eicher Tractors, and IMT. TAFE exports tractors to more than 80 countries, powering farms in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Russia.

www.tafe.com

About ICRISAT

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is a pioneering International Organization committed to developing and improving dryland farming and agri-food systems to address the challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and environmental degradation affecting the 2.1 billion people residing in the drylands of Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and beyond.

www.icrisat.org