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News | CSR

TAFE’s free of cost tractor rental platform – ‘JFarm Services’ integrated with TN Govt’s Uzhavan App

 

 

 

  • Uzhavan App used by 3.39 lakh farmers in Tamil Nadu integrates ‘JFarm Services’ for Tractor Rental
  • ‘JFarm Services’ – India’s leading tractor and farm equipment rental platform
  • Farmer-2-Farmer model (F2F) – Farmers can offer all brands of tractors and implements on rent
  • Aids rural entrepreneurship and generates additional revenue for farmers
February 05, 2019 | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: TAFE’s ‘JFarm Services’ is a CSR initiative aligned to TAFE’s vision of Cultivating The World to enrich the lives of farmers across India. This initiative was launched in Tamil Nadu in partnership with the State Government, by the Chief Guest, the Honorable Chief Minister Sri. Edappadi K. Palaniswami, and Guests of Honor, the Honorable Minister of Agriculture – Sri. R. Doraikkannu, and Principal Secretary – Department of Agriculture Sri. Gagandeep Singh Bedi IAS, Government of Tamil Nadu.
The Tamil Nadu Govt’s Uzhavan app offers 12 key agriculture services to farmers, that include real-time information on crop prices and weather updates, subsidy and government schemes forms, crop insurance and compensation. The JFarm Services App is being integrated with the Uzhavan app to offer farmers information on tractor and farm machinery rental services – the unique Farmer-2-Farmer feature allows farmers to rent their existing tractors and farm equipment to other farmers seeking to hire them.
About 65% of the rural population in Tamil Nadu relies on agriculture as the source of income and around 92% of land holdings in the state are owned by small and marginal farmers with limited access to mechanization. TAFE’s JFarm Services aims to increase easy access to farm mechanization solutions through rental of tractors and modern farm equipment to these small and marginal farmers, provide localized weather forecast, latest mandi prices, agri-news alerts and advisory, enhancing their productivity and increasing their income significantly.
Ms. Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman & CEO – TAFE, said: “Tamil Nadu is a frontrunner in agriculture productivity and leads in the production of Rice, Maize, Oilseeds and Groundnut. There is ample opportunity to sustain and improve agri-sector growth in our state and farm mechanization will be vital to achieving this potential. TAFE, through JFarm Services has collaborated with the Government of Tamil Nadu to support the state in making farm mechanization available to small and marginal farmers through the shared economy model, to create sustainable agricultural productivity and growth for the state. JFarm Services is TAFE’s CSR initiative that aims to support the farmers of Tamil Nadu by providing them easy access to farm mechanization as we progress towards the Tamil Nadu Government’s vision of doubling farm production and tripling farmers’ income.”
The JFarm Services App will connect tractor owners and Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) operated by tractors and equipment owners directly to farmers seeking farm mechanization solutions, thereby facilitating a fair and transparent rental process while focusing on quality, dependability and timely delivery. JFarm Services offers the farmers and renters a wide range of prospects for hiring and renting of farm equipment and connects them directly to negotiate and fulfill their respective requirement. With this pioneering platform, TAFE brings the benefits of the technology-enabled sharing economy to boost the income of farmers.
Mr. T R Kesavan, President & COO, Product Strategy & Corporate Relations – TAFE, said: “TAFE’s JFarm Services launched in the TN Government’s Uzhavan app offers a transparent farmer-to-farmer platform, free of any hidden charges or commissions, that enables farmers to rent their existing tractors and implements of any brand to other farmers seeking to hire modern feature-rich agricultural equipment. Through this integration with the Uzhavan app, JFarm Services along with the Tamil Nadu government, will offer customized solutions to increase farm mechanization amidst small and marginal farmers, especially those below the poverty line.”
Farmers can hire tractors and equipment via the JFarm Services Android App or by contacting the toll-free helpline 1800-4-200-100 / 1800-208-4242. The App can be used on low-cost Android phones, is designed to run on very little data and can be used in Tamil apart from the various other regional languages. The JFarm Services App is a stellar example of the Digital India initiative, tailored to benefit the Indian agricultural landscape. This service by TAFE will foster digital empowerment of Indian farmers while creating a breed of new rural entrepreneurs and significant job opportunities.
JFarm Services has a presence in states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Telangana and Tamil Nadu, and has directly benefitted about 80,000 users resulting in over 380,000 hours in hired farm machinery usage. In a short span of time, JFarm Services has become India’s largest and biggest player in farm equipment aggregation operations.
Links: Site – JFarmServices.in | Android App – JFarm Services | Facebook – JFarm Services
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 News | CSR

TAFE’s free of cost tractor rental platform – ‘JFarm Services’ launched in Jharkhand by Chief Minister – Raghubar Das

November 29, 2018 | Ranchi, Jharkhand: TAFE’s ‘JFarm Services’ is a CSR initiative aligned to TAFE’s vision of Cultivating The World to enrich the lives of farmers across India. This initiative has been launched in Jharkhand in partnership with the state Government, in the presence of Shri. Raghubar Das, the Honorable Chief Minister of Jharkhand. JFarm Services facilitates the hiring of tractors and modern farm machinery to farmers free of cost through its Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) rental platform and will be available across all 24 districts in the state.

Jharkhand is one of India’s fastest growing agricultural states with about 67% of the total working population dependent on agriculture for its livelihood. However, with the current level of agricultural mechanization being lower than the national average by nearly 55%, there is tremendous potential to power farm sector, improve yield and sustain the growth of agricultural sector in Jharkhand by increasing the level of farm mechanization.
About 84% of the land holdings in Jharkhand are with small and marginal farmers and over 83 lakh farmers in the state have limited or no access to farm mechanization. JFarm Services aims to increase easy access to farm mechanization solutions through rental of tractors and modern farm equipment to these small and marginal farmers, provide localized weather forecast, latest mandi prices, agri-news alerts and advisory, enhancing their productivity and increasing their income significantly.
JFarm Services proposes to launch its services across all cities and districts in Jharkhand. TAFE’s JFarm Services will collaborate with the agricultural development officers of the Jharkhand government to ensure wide outreach and successful roll-out of the platform.
The JFarm Services App will connect tractor owners and Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) operated by tractors and equipment owners directly to farmers seeking farm mechanization solutions, thereby facilitating a fair and transparent rental process while focusing on quality, dependability and timely delivery. JFarm Services offers the farmers and renters a wide range of prospects for hiring and renting of farm equipment and connects them directly to negotiate and fulfill their respective requirement. With this pioneering platform, TAFE brings the benefits of the technology-enabled sharing economy to boost the income of farmers.
Ms. Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman & CEO – TAFE, said: “India is a land of small farms. A majority of our farmers, almost 85% of them, have no access to farm mechanization which has the potential to improve their yields and income. JFarm Services is a CSR initiative that allows both – farmers offering their tractors and farm equipment on rent, and smaller farmers seeking this service, to benefit directly from the JFarm Services app. It is our aim to touch the lives of millions of farmers across the country as we progress towards the Prime Minister’s vision of doubling farm income by 2022.”
Farmers can hire tractors and equipment via the JFarm Services Android App or by contacting the toll-free helpline 1800-4-200-100 / 1800-208-4242. The App can be used on low-cost Android phones and is designed to run on very little data. The JFarm Services App is a stellar example of the Digital India initiative, tailored to benefit the Indian agricultural landscape. This service by TAFE will foster digital empowerment of Indian farmers while creating a breed of new rural entrepreneurs and significant job opportunities.
Mr. T R Kesavan, President & COO, Product Strategy & Corporate Relations – TAFE, said: “TAFE through JFarm Services has collaborated with the Government of Jharkhand to support the state in making farm mechanization available to small and marginal farmers through the shared economy model, to create sustainable agricultural productivity and growth for the state.”
With presence in states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar and Odisha, JFarm Services has directly benefitted and impacted around 65,000 users resulting in about 125,000 orders, adding up to about 300,000 hours in hired farm machinery usage. In a short span of about 20 months, JFarm Services has become one of the largest tractors and farm equipment rental platforms in India.
Links for more info:
Site – JFarmServices.in | Android App – JFarm Services | Facebook – JFarm Services
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 News | Milestones

TAFE inks agreement with Japan’s ISEKI for the manufacture of compact tractors in India

Chennai| November 29, 2018: Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited the world’s third largest tractor manufacturer by volumes and ISEKI & Co., Ltd, the third largest Japanese agricultural machinery manufacturer for tractors, planting and harvesting machinery, and engines, inked an agreement for the manufacture of compact tractors in India.
Under this agreement, ISEKI will offer product technology to TAFE for the manufacture of these products for the Indian market. The scope of the agreement will, in addition, cover sourcing of components/ assemblies through TAFE, building on the volume advantage that TAFE offers. TAFE will offer ISEKI’s premium light utility compact tractors in the 35-54 hp range in India. These multi-utility light weight tractors with advanced features can be used for puddling operations, orchard and plantations land preparation, tilling, inter-cultivation and spraying applications to name a few. The tractors will be manufactured in TAFE’s Madurai plant and expected to roll out by 2020.
Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman and CEO – TAFE, said, “This agreement brings together ISEKI’s rich experience in the light utility compact tractor segment globally and TAFE’s strong position in the Indian market, along with its strong manufacturing capability and robust supply chain, to offer Indian customers an international product range that will meet their requirements in new, emerging applications through a unique value proposition.”
ISEKI & Co Limited was founded in 1926 in Matsuyama, Ehime with a business philosophy to deliver products that satisfy consumer demand and contribute to agriculture development both in Japan and around the world. ISEKI’s products enjoy a strong market presence in Japan, South East Asia, Australia and USA, and, are reputed for their quality and technology. ISEKI also manufactures tractors for AGCO, with whom TAFE shares a 50 year-old association, the longest partnership in the tractor industry.
Mr. Kikuchi, Chairman of ISEKI, on signing this agreement said, “We will enter into the largest tractor market in the world, India and the Indian subcontinent with greatest partner called TAFE. We’ll promote technical alliances with TAFE by this agreement and collaborate with each other as important partners not only for India but also for our global strategy in long term. We believe our global strategy is founded by this cooperation with TAFE, and we hope we can contribute great relationship between three companies to promote global strategy together.”
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 News | Events

TAFE’s free of cost tractor rental platform – ‘JFarm Services’ launched in Patna by Bihar Agriculture Minister Dr. Prem Kumar

TAFE CAFE - ARTICLE

 

  • TAFE’s CSR initiative to support small and marginal farmers
  • Farmer-to-Farmer model (F2F) – Farmers can offer all brands of tractors and implements on rent
  • Aids rural entrepreneurship and generates additional revenue for farmers

October 05, 2018 | Patna, Bihar: TAFE’s vision of Cultivating India – Cultivating the World has paved the way for the expansion of its nationwide CSR initiative – ‘JFarm Services’ and the ‘JFarm Services App’. This unique initiative has been launched in Bihar jointly with the Department of Agriculture, Government of Bihar, under the Bihar Agriculture Growth and Reform Initiative (BAGRI), in the presence of Dr. Prem Kumar, the Honorable Minister of Agriculture, Bihar. JFarm Services facilitates the hiring of tractors and modern farm machinery to farmers free of cost.

 

Agriculture is the main source of livelihood in Bihar and driving growth in the agriculture sector is key to developing the state. 92% of the landholdings by area in Bihar are with small and marginal farmers who have limited or no access to agriculture mechanization. JFarm Services proposes to launch its services in 11 districts in Bihar (Begusarai, Bhojpur, Buxar, Darbhanga, Gaya, Nalanda, Patna, Rohtas, Samstipur, Muzaffarpur and Vaishali) and expand across Bihar within the next year. Farmers who own small parcels of land across Bihar can now hire state-of-the-art farm equipment to increase their productivity and income significantly.

 

The JFarm Services App will empower farmers with affordable farm mechanization services in a transparent manner. Farmers looking to rent their existing tractors and farm equipment of any brand are linked directly to farmers seeking to hire them through the free of cost “Farmer-to-Farmer model” (F2F) of JFarm Services app which enables them to contact farmers, negotiate rental prices and fulfill their respective requirements directly. With this pioneering platform, TAFE brings the benefits of the technology-enabled sharing economy to boost the income of the farmers.

 

Ms. Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman & CEO – TAFE, said: “India is a land of small farms. A majority of our farmers, almost 85% of them, have no access to farm mechanization which has the potential to improve their yields and income. JFarm Services is a CSR initiative that allows both farmers offering their tractors and farm equipment on rent, and smaller farmers seeking this service benefit directly from the JFarm Services app. It is our aim to touch the lives of millions of farmers across the country as we progress towards the Prime Minister’s vision of doubling farm income by 2022.”

 

Farmers can hire tractors and equipment via the JFarm Services Android App or by contacting the toll-free helpline 1800-4-200-100. The App can be used on low-cost Android phones and is designed to run on very little data. Farmers who don’t own smart or feature phones can use the toll-free helpline. The platform also provides periodic updates on local weather, market, agri-news and mandi prices without any fee.

 

Mr. T R Kesavan, President & COO, Product Strategy & Corporate Relations – TAFE, said: “TAFE through JFarm Services has collaborated with the Government of Bihar as a part of the BAGRI initiative to support the GoB in making farm mechanization available to small and marginal farmers through the shared economy model to create sustainable agricultural productivity and growth for the state.”

 

JFarm Services initial pilot roll-out covered large states like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. JFarm Services has directly benefitted around 60,000 users resulting in over 100,000 orders, adding up to over 250,000 hours in hired farm machinery usage.

 

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 has worked through several challenging situations from limited water availability to inputs costs to the shortage of labour and has developed a viable and sustainable model that contributes to improved farm productivity, profitability and livelihood opportunities.

 

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 more than 80% 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:

JFarm Services Android App | Toll-free helpline: 1800-4-200-100

This free app connects tractor owners and Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) operated by tractors and equipment owners directly to farmers seeking farm mechanization solutions, thereby facilitating a fair and transparent rental process while focusing on quality, dependability and timely delivery. JFarm Services offers the farmers and renters a wide range of prospects for hiring and renting of farm equipment and connects them directly to negotiate and fulfill their respective requirement.
With the creation of this platform comprising farm machinery owners and users, JFarm Services has impacted the lives of over 60,000 farmers across 4 states in India since its inception in 2017.
Currently, JFarm Services (JFS) operates in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Uttar Pradesh (UP) – making farm mechanization viable and affordable to all. JFarm Services is further fostering digital empowerment of Indian farmers while creating a breed of new rural entrepreneurs, significant job opportunities and employment.

 

About TAFE: tafe.com

The world’s third largest tractor manufacturer and second largest in India by volumes with an annual sale of over 150,000 tractors; TAFE is one of the leading exporters of tractors from India with a turnover in excess of INR 93 billion. TAFE manufactures a range of tractors in both the air-cooled and water-cooled platforms and markets them under its four iconic brands – Massey Ferguson, TAFE, Eicher, and the recently acquired Serbian tractor and agricultural equipment brand – Industrija Mašina i Traktora (IMT). Acclaimed for its quality and dependability, TAFE’s products and services are present in over 100 countries across the world, including developed countries in Europe and the Americas.

 

TAFE’s adaptive agriculture research centre JFarm has developed a model of integrated farm practices suitable for small to large farms resulting in enhanced productivity. It follows a balanced approach to nutrient management with emphasis on low cost in-farm input creation, supported by mechanization, tested soil and water management practices, appropriate crop and seed selection, advanced crop production and protection technologies to make farming more sustainable and profitable.

 

Besides tractors and farm machinery, TAFE manufactures diesel engines, silent gensets, batteries, hydraulic pumps and cylinders, gears and transmission components, and has business interest in vehicle franchises and plantations. TAFE is committed to the Total Quality Movement (TQM). In the recent past various manufacturing plants of TAFE have garnered numerous ‘TPM Excellence Awards’ from the Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance (JIPM), as well as a number of other regional awards for TPM excellence. TAFE became the first Indian tractor manufacturer to win the Frost & Sullivan Global Manufacturing Leadership Award in 2018, being recognized with the ‘Enterprise Integration and Technology Leadership Award’ and two ‘Supply Chain Leadership Awards’. In recognition of its outstanding contribution to engineering exports, TAFE has been named the ‘Star Performer – Large Enterprise (Agricultural Tractors)’ at the 40th Engineering Exports Promotion Council of India – Southern Region Awards (2015-16), for the 21st time in a row. TAFE has also been conferred the ‘Regional Contributor Award’ for quality supplies from Toyota Motor Company, Japan, and the ‘Manufacturing Supply Chain Operational Excellence – Automobiles Award’ at the second Asia Manufacturing Supply Chain Summit for its supply chain transformation in 2013. TAFE’s tractor plants are certified under ISO 9001 for efficient quality management systems and under ISO 14001 for environment friendly operations.

 

 

Links:

Site – JFarmServices.in | Android App – JFarm Services | Facebook – JFarm Services

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 News | Events

AEA & SAE Club Inauguration at MIT

Mr S Sriraman, Senior Vice President – R&D, inaugurated Automobile Engineering Association (AEA) and SAE India (Society of Automotive Engineers India) Collegiate Club at Madras Institute of Technology (MIT), Campus for the year 2018-2019. This will enable them organise SAE affilated Knowledge Round Table (KRT) in their campus.

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JFarm Services App Launch
 News | Spotlight

TAFE’s free of cost tractor rental platform – ‘JFarm Services’ launched nationwide

TAFe launches JFarm Services App

 

● TAFE’s CSR initiative to support small and marginal farmers
● Farmer-to-Farmer model (F2F)
● Farmers can offer all brands of tractors and implements on rent
● Aids rural entrepreneurship and generates additional revenue for farmers
September 21, 2018: TAFE – Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited, India’s second largest tractor
manufacturer, has announced the national expansion of its CSR initiative – ‘JFarm Services’ and the ‘JFarm Services App’. With this pioneering platform, TAFE brings the benefits of the technology-enabled sharing economy to boost the income of Indian farmers. JFarm Services facilitates the hiring of tractors and modern farm machinery to farmers free of cost. Farmers looking to rent their existing tractors and farm equipment are linked directly to farmers seeking to hire them through the free of cost “Farmer-to-Farmer model” (F2F) of JFarm Services app which enables them to contact farmer entrepreneurs, negotiate rental prices and fulfill their respective requirements.
Despite nearly 65% Indians working in the farm sector, India’s agricultural yields trail global and emerging market averages. More than 20 crore Indian farmers have little or no access to mechanized tools. Any effort to bring about a paradigm shift in productivity and farm income has to be centered on the small farmers, who account for 86% of India’s farmland holding.
Farmers who own small parcels of land across India can now hire state-of-the-art farm equipment to increase their productivity and income significantly. The JFarm Services App and on ground Custom Hiring Centers which are operated by tractor and equipment owners will provide farmers with affordable farm mechanization services in a transparent manner. With JFarm Services’ tremendous early success, TAFE is collaborating with various state governments like Bihar, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Assam to roll out the JFarm services platform.
JFarm Services initial pilot roll-out covers Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, directly benefiting around 60,000 users resulting in over 100,000 orders, adding up to about 250,000 hours in hired farm machinery usage.
Ms. Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman & CEO – TAFE, said: “The nationwide launch of JFarm Services – farm
equipment rental platform as a CSR initiative is aligned to TAFE’s vision of Cultivating the World and our commitment to the economic well-being of Indian farmers. The JFarm Services platform leverages technology to provide free of cost access to rental of farm mechanization solutions and offers an opportunity to build a viable rural entrepreneurship model while augmenting farm productivity and income of small and marginal farmers. With this launch we aim to touch millions of farmers who have no access to farm mechanization and modern technology, while accelerating the progress towards the Prime Minister’s vision of doubling farm incomes by 2022.”
Mr. T R Kesavan, President & COO – TAFE, said: “TAFE’s JFarm Services offers a transparent farmer-to-farmer platform, free of any hidden charges or commissions, that enables farmer entrepreneurs to rent their existing tractors and implements of any brand to farmers who seek to hire modern feature rich products to boost their farm income. JFarm Services is also collaborating with various State Governments to offer customized solutions to increase farm mechanization amidst small and marginal farmers below the poverty line.”
Farmers can hire equipment via the JFarm Services android app, contacting the toll-free helpline 1800-4-200-100 or the local Custom Hiring Centres. The App can be used on low-cost Android phones and is designed to run on very little data. Farmers who don’t own smart or feature phones can use the toll-free helpline. The platform also provides periodic updates on local weather, market, agri-news and mandi prices without any fee.

Links: JFarmServices.in | JFarmServices Android App | JFarm Services Facebook Page

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 News | Spotlight

TAFE wins 3 awards at Frost & Sullivan’s GMLA 2018

TAFE – Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited, has won 3 awards in the “Frost & Sullivan Global Manufacturing Leadership Award” in the categories of Supply Chain Management, and Enterprise Integration and Technology, for the year 2018. The TAFE team received the awards at the Frost & Sullivan Manufacturing Leadership Awards at Huntington Beach in California, USA, on June 13, 2018.

Frost & Sullivan’s Manufacturing Leadership Awards, now in their 14th year, honor companies and individual leaders that are shaping the future of global manufacturing. Winning projects and individual manufacturing leaders have demonstrated achievement in clearly defined categories, and are chosen by a panel of expert judges for results that have delivered clear and compelling value, return on investment, and other tangible outcomes.

The awards are as follows:

  • Enterprise Integration and Technology Leadership Award for “TAFE Digital Quality Management System”
  • Supply Chain Leadership Award for “TAFE Supplier Risk Management Model”
  • Supply Chain Leadership Award for “TAFE Differential Engagement Model”

To quote Frost & Sullivan, “TAFE is now among an esteemed group of leaders who are shaping the future of global manufacturing.”

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 News | Events

TAFE TRIBE launches a new store at Sembiam!

TAFE TRIBE is the original merchandise portal of TAFE, offering a range of interesting, high quality products that embody the essence of the TAFE’s brand, its globally renowned standards of design, quality and efficiency.

Capturing the spirit of TAFE and its people, the products under TAFE TRIBE build a brand new way of life. They are like a badge of honour; a proud proclamation; a marker of identity and living the TAFE way of life.

After a successful year of operation with the lounge store at TAFE head office and the online store, TAFE TRIBE is proud to announce that its newest store at the TAFE Sembiam Plant, Chennai, was inaugurated on 28 June, 2018. The much awaited store presents an amazing range of apparel, travel gear, stationery items, collectibles, gifts and lifestyle gear, carefully curated and designed to reflect the TAFE brand.

The store was inaugurated by Mr. John Edwin (President and Chief Officer), Mr. Shaik Rahiman (Vice President Manufacturing), and Niraj Jain (Head of Materials). The drone parade carrying the TAFE TRIBE flag was a marvel for everyone, piquing their interest and drawing them to the store. Balloons, buntings, and banners in the classic TRIBE colours red and white added to the festive environment of the store launch.

The store was extremely well received and hopes to promote TAFE’s way of life to all. Do drop by at the TAFE TRIBE Store at Sembiam and shop from the exciting collection of Original TAFE Merchandise. You can also shop online at tafetribe.com and avail free delivery pan-India on orders above Rs. 500.

Gear up with authentic TAFE Merchandise. Live the Brand. Join the TRIBE.

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The TAFE team at HAU's Agri-EPI Centre
 News | Spotlight

TAFE and HAU collaborate to develop sustainable agriculture solutions

Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited – TAFE has entered into a new international collaboration with UK based Harper Adams University (HAU) to develop advanced technological, agronomic and educational solutions for the delivery of sustainable food production around the world.

HAU is an agriculture university established in 1901 in the United Kingdom. HAU’s Agriculture Engineering Precision and Innovation – Agri-EPI Centre is one of the four national Centres for Agricultural Innovation created as part of the £17.7m UK government investment from UK’s Strategy for Agricultural Technologies to help provide engineering and precision agriculture solutions for the agri-food industry.

The collaboration with HAU’s Agri-EPI Centre will include joint research projects and programmes, joint publications and staff exchanges. The areas of research will focus on agriculture, engineering and technology development programmes on autonomous farming and energy efficient implements, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems and sensor technologies, and the Hands free hectare project to be implemented at JFarm India – TAFE’s adaptive agriculture research centre.

TAFE President & COO – Mr. T R Kesavan said, “TAFE’s collaboration with Harper Adams – Agri-EPI Centre is a reaffirmation of TAFE’s commitment to its vision of ‘Cultivating the World’ as it aims to combine integrated farming techniques with precision agriculture and engineering to develop sustainable farming models that work for both marginal and large farms. This collaboration will provide opportunities for developing a range of advanced training skills, learning and the promotion of international technology transfer and exchange.”

Engineers from TAFE have moved into the new Agri-EPI Centre on the Harper Adams University campus to work on the centre’s first major research and development project. On the team’s arrival, Harper Adams University engineering lecturer, Kit Franklin said, “We at Harper Adams have been building contacts with TAFE for the last 18 months. It’s great to now have this young and enthusiastic team of engineers from TAFE’s Centre of Excellence here in the UK where we’re about to start our first collaborative engineering project. Along with the completion of the project, I hope the team will get a flavour of British agriculture, helping them to return with fresh new ideas.”

Welcoming them to the Agri-EPI Centre, Lee Williams – Newport Centre Hub Manager said, “We’re extremely excited about the first major R&D project coming into the centre, but even more so as it’s a large global tractor manufacturer that’s working in collaboration with Harper Adams.”

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TAFE ‘Cultivating The World’ with learning
 News | Spotlight

TAFE ‘Cultivating The World’ with learning

At Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited (TAFE), learning is an integral part of its ethos. As a learning organization, TAFE pioneered the development of its employees and channel partners through various training modules at the ‘Product Training Centre’ way back in the 1960’s, which was the first of its kind in the tractor industry. Over the years, TAFE’s commitment to learning has expanded and evolved, leveraging the latest technology to support and encourage its employees to constantly develop and upgrade themselves.

As part of this journey, TAFE was honoured at the 2018 India Innovation Awards by Skillsoft and SumTotal for ‘Creating an Impact in Leadership Development’ amidst HR, L&D industry stalwarts at its India Perspectives 2018 conference. This award honours an organization that develops and implements best-in-class integrated learning and/ or talent programs that demonstrate strong results. Programs feature innovation to overcome challenges and realize success.

Spearheaded by TAFE E-University and the Business Excellence team, the leadership development program -internally branded as LA CAFÉ, is offered as part of the Joy of Execution Excellence (JoEE) initiative. Considering the great need to develop CSF project leaders in the organization who are hard-pressed for time to attend a complete classroom based learning, TAFE partnered with Skillsoft to offer world class online programs, designed and delivered to meet various business needs in a blended learning mode.

The program focused on boosting the success rate of strategic projects by improving the competency levels of Critical Success Factor (CSF) project leaders within the organization. It aimed to develop the project management skills of CSF project leaders in the identified skill gap areas. The skill gaps were consolidated by in-person conversations with business leaders and surveys. The six modules from Skillsoft Leadership Advantage (SLA) to address the critical areas which were contributing to project success were: – Leading Effective Meetings, Problem Solving and Decision Making, Project Management, Managing Conflict, Influence and Persuasion, and Managing Upward Relationships.

The program followed a blended learning approach that provided the right mix of, self-paced learning for leaders to learn anytime anywhere, online webinars to value-add to the online content and motivate learners, café type workshops to encourage collaborative and social learning, business whatsapp conversations to engage and discuss key concepts, senior leader perspectives to align the learning with TAFE’s context, LA CAFÉ buddy for peer motivation to learn, and gamification to make learning fun and engaging. The program’s framework of ‘Learn – Apply – Share – Institutionalize’, supported learners to apply their learning to the projects they are leading, and also transfer best practices to organizational projects by means of horizontal deployment.

The recognition validates TAFE’s constant endeavour to build a continuous learning culture and encourage knowledge sharing. TAFE e-University and Business Excellence team are at an important juncture in the transformation journey, aligning business needs to learning and knowledge sharing, and thereby impacting the business’s bottom-line.

Congratulations to the TAFE E-University and Business Excellence team on this accolade and for ‘Cultivating The World’ with learning.

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