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TAFE Doddaballapur has a bumper vegetable harvest!

For over 50 decades, TAFETractors and Farm Equipment Limited has been #CultivatingTheWorld, helping farming communities around the world prosper. It has been TAFE’s constant endeavor to provide innovative and relevant farm mechanization solutions to ensure sustainable farming becomes a common practice. A values driven organization, TAFE has always prided itself in being a responsible corporate citizen and being environment friendly and green conscious.

Taking a leaf off their customers’ daily life, the employees at TAFE’s Doddaballapur plant to encourage sustainable farming, inaugurated a kitchen garden on June 4, 2016, on the eve of World Environment Day. The employees participated with great fervour and began by planting saplings of Brinjal and Tomato. The small patch of land has since seen a harvest of about 1,329 kg of Brinjal, 206 kg of Tomato, 128 kg of Raddish, among others.

Kudos to TAFE’s Doddaballapur plant for making excellent use of a small patch of land by cultivating organic vegetables and reaping gold from green. This will serve as an inspiration to others to cultivate in their own small way and empathize with the farmers whose efforts sustain and nourish us.

TAFE wins EEPC India - Southern Region Awards for the 21st consecutive year
News | Spotlight

TAFE wins EEPC award for the 21st consecutive year

Tractors and Farm Equipment LimitedTAFE, is the third largest tractor manufacturer in the world and the second largest in India (by volumes), and has been powering farms in over 100 countries. In recognition of its outstanding contribution to engineering exports, TAFE has been awarded the ‘Star Performer – Large Enterprise (Agricultural Tractors)’ at the 40th Engineering Exports Promotion Council of India – Southern Region Awards – 2015-16. The award was presented by the Honorable Minister for Minister for Industries, Sports and Youth Affairs, Sri. A C Moideen, Government of Kerala on October 25, 2017 and received by Mr. N Sriram – Divisional Manager, Exports and Mr. N Anantharamakrishnan – Deputy Manager, Exports on behalf of TAFE.

TAFE is one of India’s leading tractor exporters. The awards were decided on the basis of FOB value of export of engineering goods in agricultural tractors. The award is a remarkable achievement for TAFE as it has won this prestigious award 21 years in a row. TAFE’s success can be attributed to many factors like the extensive range of products and features it offers to its customers and the synergy between TAFE & AGCO teams to take the brand forward. TAFE will continue to strive in its endeavor to provide the best farm mechanization equipment to farmers world over in its journey of #CultivatingTheWorld.

The EEPC India is a premier trade and investment promotion organization in India, sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. It caters to the Indian engineering goods sector that also acts as an advisory body that actively contributes to the policies of the Indian government and works to provide liaison between the engineering industry and the Government. The institution serves over 12,000 members ranging from large corporate, trading houses, small and medium scale units and more.

News | Initiative

i3 – TAFE’s unified internal idea management platform

On Tuesday, October 3rd 2017, all desks at the TAFE offices had an interesting object on their desks… a crumpled sheet of bright yellow paper! Most employees wore a puzzled look on their faces and were scratching their heads wondering whether to keep it or trash it. And, of course, almost by default each one of them opened it to find a very interesting message –

“Don’t trash your ideas – Let them land in the right place.”

Excellent organisations recognize that innovation can apply to products, processes, marketing, organizational structures and business models. Over the years, TAFE has strived towards achieving organizational excellence by establishing a culture of continuous improvement and learning. In the last few years, we have been focusing on harnessing creativity and inculcating a culture of innovation across the organisation through a systematic approach to manage innovation driving:

  • Product innovation through Small Innovation Group
  • Cost saving initiatives through Prospero and Vridhi
  • Process excellence through e-CIMP and DiscoverI

Furthering our efforts to harness creativity and innovation, TAFE’s unified platform for idea management – i3 – was launched on September 30, 2017, on the auspicious occasion of Vijaya Dasami, in the presence of TAFE’s Chairman & CEO, Ms. Mallika Srinivasan. The event was attended by several senior management executives and project team members. The event was broadcast through a webinar for outstation participants to attend.

The launch event started with traditional lighting of the lamp followed by a prayer song and the TAFE Anthem. Ms. Shobhana Ravi, Chief Information Technology, Innovation and Learning Officer (CITILO), gave a brief overview of the new platform and its features. Mr. S Jaishankar, Sr. GM (Cost Control) posted the first challenge in the new platform and Mr. Jones Sunder Singh, Sr. AVP (Treasury) posted the first idea in response to the challenge. The launch event was successful and closed with a special keynote by TAFE Chairman & CEO, Ms. Mallika Srinivasan, who addressed the gathering on the importance of innovation, cost saving and how this platform can be leveraged.

i3 – An overview
TAFE’s unified idea management platform will provide an opportunity to get inspired, ideate and implement your ideas and get rewarded through a gamified experience. Key highlights of the unified platform are:

  • Ideas and challenges can be posted under the broad categories – Cost Saving, Technology Leadership, Customer Solutions and Process Excellence, each of which will further have sub-categories
  • Idea evaluation is done by a 3 member workflow team
  • Every idea is evaluated based on a set of defined parameters on impact, uniqueness and feasibility
  • Based on evaluation scores, ideas will be classified as Just Do It / Kaizen / Innovative Idea / Breakthrough Idea

The team invites all TAFE employees to login and contribute their ideas, as it could be the next big idea! The real gamechanger.

Eicher Engines announces scratch card scheme
News | Initiative

Eicher Engines from TMTL announces scratch card scheme

The TMTL Engines division – a unit of TMTL (TAFE Motors and Tractors Limited – a wholly owned subsidiary of TAFE), is known for its diverse range of both air and water cooled engines. It has a varied portfolio in agro engines and genset engines, apart from being one of the fastest growing brands in energy solutions with two brands of silent gensets marketed under Eicher Engines (5 – 45 kVA) and TMTL Engines (62.5 kVA – 125 kVA) and a recently launched Solar business.

The agro engines marketed under Eicher Engines is a trusted brand, committed to encouraging agricultural entrepreneurship and customer satisfaction. Eicher Engines’ agro engines are known for their outstanding return on investment and are available in the 12 hp to 46 hp range. A favorite among farmers, the engines are, air-cooled thereby reducing maintenance, robust, and are economical due to their low fuel consumption. Eicher Engines from TMTL has undertaken initiatives to inform and educate farmers on the various applications of its agro engines, such as, mobile huller, oil expellers, brick kilns, stone crusher, etc. as an alternative means of income.

Recently, a scratch card scheme was announced by Eicher Engines for customers with a guaranteed prize of INR 1,000/- and possibly a maximum of INR 51,000/- on the purchase of every engine*. The scheme has attracted several customers who have been a part of this initiative. The scheme is valid till October 31, 2017 or till stocks last (whichever comes first). The first three winners who have won scratch card vouchers worth INR 5,000/- are, Mr. Raja Kumar Singh from Gopalganj, Bihar; Mr. Shatrudhan Kumar from Muzaffarpur, Bihar and Mr. Yadunandan Yadav from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand.

The TMTL Engines Division has gone great lengths to ensure their customers get the best possible service and are completely satisfied with their engines.

*Terms and conditions apply. All rights reserved with TAFE Motors and Tractors Limited.

News | Spotlight

TMTL Engines crowned ‘India’s most promising brand in manufacturing engines’

TMTL Engines – Eicher Engines was awarded the prestigious “India’s most promising brand in manufacturing engines” by World Consulting and Research Corporation (WCRC). The award function was held recently in Bangkok, and is another milestone for the brand – one of the fastest growing in the country. A result of the relentless dedication and passion of the Engines team, it is a testament to their drive for excellence and ensuring customer delight.

Mr. Vikas Gupta, Senior General Manager – Sales and Marketing, TMTL Engines Division, received this award from Mr. Satish Sehgal – President, Indo-Thai Business Association, along with Ms. Shivalee Kaushik – Director, Business & Strategy, WCRC, Ms. Surbhi Pandit – Head International Relations, WCRC and Mr. Harsh Vardhan Sethi – Hon. Secretary Indian-Thai Chamber of Commerce.

TAFE congratulates the entire Engines team for this award and their continued commitment to ensure perfection in all their endeavors.

TAFE Madurai encourages a learning culture among rural students
Read | Initiative

TAFE Madurai to impart skill development training for students

Cultivating the world has always been TAFE’s philosophy and every step the company takes is to achieve this goal. Learning has always been a part of TAFE’s DNA and it encourages knowledge seekers to enrich themselves in areas of their interest. TAFE believes in sharing its knowledge and has collaborated with several educational institutions to create customised syllabus and courseware in agriculture and manufacturing. Ànd now, TAFE’s Madurai operation has entered into an agreement with the Gandhigram Rural Institute (GRI) wherein the final year students of Bachelor of Vocation (B. Voc.) – Farm Equipment Operation and Maintenance will be trained in tractor assembly, quality inspection and materials inward. A step towards sharing with the society it is entrenched in; TAFE Madurai’s collaboration with GRI will expose students to the functioning of a world-class facility with a flexi-line that produces hundreds of Massey Ferguson and TAFE tractor models that cater to customers worldwide.

The three-month training program will commence for the academic year 2017-2018, with four batches every year. This initiative will benefit 50 students and hopes to attract more rural students to the course. This training program will give students the unique experience of witnessing the manufacturing of a tractor and also learning from the experienced personnel at TAFE Madurai. Unlike other programs, this training program will also provide an excellent opportunity for girls to work in core departments like Quality and Materials, giving them the necessary exposure and making them industry-ready.

TAFE has been at the forefront of farm mechanization, helping farmers achieve higher farm productivity and yields to meet the increasing food demands. It continuously strives to bring agriculture to the forefront and is engaged in making information and facilities more accessible to stakeholders.

With this collaboration, TAFE has now opened the doors of knowledge to students and strengthening the cause of farming. We wish the TAFE Madurai team the very best in this thoughtful endeavour!

TAFE's JFarm Services App
Read | Spotlight

TAFE launches ‘JFarm Services App’ – a digital boost for the Indian farmer

TAFETractors and Farm Equipment Limited, India’s second largest tractor manufacturer, has announced the launch of ‘JFarm Services App’ – a mobile app-based aggregator platform which facilitates hiring of tractors and modern farm machinery for farmers in Rajasthan, at the Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet (GRAM), Kota. Available on Google Play Store, the JFarm Services App is free and will connect Custom Hiring Centres (CHC) operated by tractors and equipment owners directly to farmers who need farm mechanization services and solutions, thereby facilitating a fair and transparent rental process while focusing on quality, dependability and timely delivery. 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 will also be available to farmers on call through a dedicated toll-free number 1800-4-200-100.

Out of the 95 CHCs allotted through subsidy to TAFE, 38 have been identified across six zones in the State – Bharatpur, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Jalore, Kota and Sikar.

In November 2016, TAFE inaugurated ‘JFarm Rajasthan’, an advanced agri-research centre in Bhawanimandi in the Jhalawar district. As a next step, the launch of the JFarm Services App along with the identification of these physical CHC franchisees creates a hub where farmers gain access to specialized equipment and JFarm Rajasthan’s agri-extension services including modern farm practices, technical know-how, high-yielding crop varieties, crop protection, organic and sustainable farming, besides customized and specially designed training programmes by leading agri-scientists.

JFarm Services – the aggregator platform in its pilot phase has enrolled over 450 Custom Hiring Centres and suppliers and has connected them to over 25,000 farmers.

Speaking on the app launch, Ms. Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman & CEO – TAFE, said, “The JFarm Services App is a milestone in TAFE’s journey of Cultivating the World. With the JFarm Services mobile app, TAFE aims to empower the farming community by creating a viable model for the farmers and the Custom Hirers to conduct transactions in a fair and transparent manner. These initiatives are directed towards building a sustainable livelihood for farmers, while preparing them to remain self-sufficient by increasing farm productivity.”

Mr. T R Kesavan, President & COO – TAFE, said, “As a trusted brand among the farming community in Rajasthan, TAFE through its JFarm Services aggregator model, plans to enrol 10,000-15,000 Custom Hiring Centers in the first two years of operation and positively impact the farming community by reaching out to 500,000 farmers.”

TAFE is proud to partner with #GRAMKota, Rajasthan, 2017, and continues its association as the Platinum Sponsor of this prestigious exposition.

Rajasthan holds a special place in TAFE’s journey as an organization and participated in GRAM 2017 with an impressive range of products from Massey Ferguson, Eicher tractors and AgriStar implements from TAFE.

The men and women of the land welcomed #TAFE and its products as always. The expo is on till Friday, May 26, 2017. Do drop by at the TAFE Pavilion and join us in our journey of Cultivating the World

Tractors line up at the Tractor Fest
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A festival celebrating tractors

Invented in 1892, the tractor turns 125 this year. Synonymous with farming, the tractor is specifically designed to deliver high torque at slow speeds, and slowly but surely over the years, it has changed the agricultural landscape all over the world. Its impact has been such that seldom will one ever imagine a farm without a tractor.

In this world where Cars and Motorbikes are revered, there’s a relatively unknown festival in the U.K. that celebrates the tractor – Tractor Fest, UK’s largest tractor vintage show. A tractor aficionados dream, it mainly showcases vintage tractors, their engines and other commercial cars and motorcycles found around UK and Europe. The Newby Hall tractor fest initially started as the Vintage Tractor Gathering in 2006 and has grown rapidly since then. The first Tractor Fest took place in 2011, as a two day festival organised by Yorkshire Vintage Association.

The Tractor Fest attracts thousands of visitors each year including tractor owners, collector, enthusiasts and even families for a great day out. It also conducts various awards for the tractor exhibitors and provides them a platform to showcase their tractors’ capabilities. The Tractor Fest is inaugurated with a tractor march starting from Ripon Centre and ends at the Yorkshire Market Square.

This year the Tractor Fest will be held on June 10 and 11 at the Newby Hall. The fest organisers have anticipated an estimate of 1500 vintage tractors to be exhibited; including the rare Sharp Tractors from 1907, making it one of the biggest tractor fest in the world. Here is a compilation of images from Tractor Fest for your viewing pleasure.

Source courtesy:
tractors.wikia.com
cheffins.co.uk
skiddle.com
farminguk.com
newbyhall.com
en.wikipedia.org

TAFE collaborator AGCO uses Google Glass on shop floor
Read | Perspective

Gadgets helping us Cultivate the World

We are living in an age where computers are tiny, fast and frugal, making them so common that literally everyone carries one in their pocket (or is holding it in their hand if you’re reading this on your phone).

Despite its immense popularity, or some might even say – necessity of gadgets in our lives, we are living in a society where, hardbound text books and newspapers still exist; not everything is on a screen. But when it comes to an organization, the question of ‘cost vs benefits’ is evaluated while adopting a new technology for conventional activities.

Tendencies to continue with existing conventions will always be high, as most employees will look at the experience from an individual’s perspective and would have to reconfigure their current method of working, which is hard wired into the brain. But when an organization decides to go mainstream, employees have to swim with the tide, which will obviously be good for them over time. And of course there are those of us who would love for changes to take place.

This preface is for the news where AGCO has adopted Google Glass for workers in its Engine assembly cell in one of their production plants in Atlanta.

You can read more about it @ goo.gl/kvm4wh

Similarly, I’m sure most of us at TAFE would also be interested in knowing how other divisions in the organizations have made a switch in technology from older conventions, as we evolve in our journey of #CultivatingTheWorld.

TAFE's MF Service Camp in Umred Maharashtra
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Cultivating the World always, made possible by TAFE service

When customers purchase a product from TAFE, they gain a companion for life. Relationships at TAFE – be it with a customer, dealer or supplier, are treasured and nurtured for the long run; steadfast through changing and dynamic times.

With a robust network of over 1000 dealers, supported by over 2000 sales outlets, customers are empowered. The distribution and sale of its tractors is facilitated by the company’s own fully trained sales staff of over 450 people, and close to 3000 dealer sales staff. With such a strong focus on sales, it is paramount that TAFE customers receive a stronger after-sales support. All dealer service personnel, both domestic and international, are trained at TAFE’s Product Training Centre near Chennai on usage, servicing and trouble shooting of products through extensive and structured training programs that use a judicious mix of class room training, on the field and in work shop training as well as through the aid of digital media. TAFE has an exclusive service team distributed among its various area offices to provide additional service support to dealers as when needed.

TAFE extends its expertise towards servicing and maintenance of tractors and equipment, with the aim of reducing downtime and ensuring extended and reliable product performance. They can not only avail after-sales support and spare-part requirements, but get it at their desired location, including remote clusters pan-India. An example of this positive outreach is exemplified by our authorized dealer in Umred, Maharashtra, who regularly organizes customer interaction programs, right at their doorstep or by service camps at the dealership.

These photos offer a glimpse of this superior service provided by the dealer. We congratulate the team for ‘Cultivating the World’ with their ‘service’.

Photo courtesy: Sonu Verma