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Time of India

TAFE, ICRISAT join hands to set up agri-research centre in Hyderabad to boost sustainable farming

Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited ( TAFE ) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics ( ICRISAT ) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the 'JFarm Adaptive Agriculture Research & Extension Centre' in Patancheru, Hyderabad. The partnership, formalised on July 11, 2025, will see TAFE and ICRISAT collaborate on promoting mechanised, resource-efficient, and socially inclusive farming practices. The new centre will be part of TAFE's JFarm initiative — launched in 1964 to empower farmers through research and training — and will operate under ICRISAT's Centre of Excellence for South–South Cooperation in Agriculture (ISSCA). Pivotal to Viksit Bharat The centre will focus on field-validating innovations like machine-harvestable chickpeas, soil conservation, water-use efficiency, crop residue management, and lab-to-land technology transfer. It will also provide training to farmers on tractor operations, servicing, and integrated mechanisation models. One key highlight will be the promotion of the Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Digital Custom Hiring model that enables mechanisation access without the need for ownership. TAFE's Group President, Dr. T R Kesavan, said the collaboration aims to 'implement precision agriculture while safeguarding land and water resources.' He added that the initiative reflects TAFE's belief in last-mile knowledge dissemination. Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT, called mechanisation 'pivotal to achieving a Viksit Bharat,' adding that the partnership will help reduce chemical inputs, labour dependency, and environmental impact — with potential applications across Africa.