India: ITC Devises Mechanisation Tools for Small Tobacco Farmers

Source from:  Hindu Business Line 02/26/2013

To tackle labour shortage and increasing farm wages, tobacco major ITC has developed affordable farm mechanisation solution for small tobacco farmers.

ITC's Agri Business Division – ILTD, which works with the tobacco farmers in Mysore and Hassan districts, has developed mechanisation solutions for land preparation, transplantation, fertilisation and inter-cultivation.
 
"By developing and introducing solutions, we have demonstrated that more than 50 per cent of the labour requirement in tobacco cultivation can be saved," Krishna Kumar, Leaf Manager of ITC Limited, told Business Line.
 
"The solution is likely to benefit 60,000 farm families and labourers, who are dependent on flue cured tobacco crop for their livelihood," he added.

About 80 per cent of the crop is exported earning foreign exchange. Labour shortage always hinders operations timeline, impacts crop quality and the export potential. It also affects the profitability of many small and marginal farm families.
 
Italian technology

For developing farm solutions, ILTD imported the technology from a manufacturer in Italy. "Today the machinery is manufactured locally in India to bring down the cost of ownership for both to the farmers and their groups", Krishna Kumar said.
 
The machines are currently manufactured by M/s Arkay Agricon Machines at Faridabad, who have obtained the license from the Italian company.

After assessing local needs, ILTD conducted extensive study to develop suitable tools and is currently holding field evaluation trials of all implements on 200 acres spread across different growing regions in Mysore and Hassan districts.

To popularise and familiarise the machinery, the company is holding farm demonstrations in different villages of Hunsur, Periyapatna, HD Kote and Ramnathapura taluks.
 
Krishna Kumar said, "Along with tobacco cultivation, farmers have also found the solutions suitable for other crops, such as chilli and tomato."
 
"As a next step to popularising the machinery, the company and few progressive farmers have approached the Karnataka Government to provide subsidy to farmers to buy these equipments. The Government of Andhra Pradesh has already decided to provide 50 per cent subsidy to farmers," he added. Enditem