| Priced almost 50 per cent less than that of country-made tractors, the Chinese tractor has reached more than 200 farmers in the past few months. |
| Assembled at Misrod (near Bhopal) in completely knocked down condition, the 22 HP Chinese tractor, branded 'Angad', is poised to reach almost 500 farmers each year. SAS Motors Ltd, in association with its Chinese partner Laiyang Motors Ltd, has plans to launch tillers and other farm implements in future. |
| "We will soon launch a power tiller in 6.5 HP category at Rs 30,000," told Goutam K Das, executive vice-president of SAS Motors Ltd, to Business Standard in Bhopal. "Angad is 25 per cent more fuel-efficient then that of any other tractor in the Indian market," he added. |
| "Our aim is to tap the potential in farm mechanisation which is only 5 per cent while in China the same is 50 per cent. With our 44 dealers in Madhya Pradesh and nine in Chhattisgarh, we will be able to sell 50 units each month by next year in MP and at least 100 units in MP and Chhattisgarh," Das said. |
| Angad comes in 1.5 lakh plus category while a 25 HP tractor is not less than Rs 3 lakh. The Angad 240 D complies Bharat-III, Central Tractor Training Institute Budni and central motor vehicle rules. |
| Madhya Pradesh has more than 2 lakh tractors but 25 HP tractors have created problems for the marginal farmers. |
| According to banking industry sources, "The low HP tractors have been given to the marginal and small farmers to meet the banking targets because of which most of the farmers have become landless. The Nabard norms say that a tractor should not be funded if it is not going to be hired for less than eight hours." |
| Last year, the department of finance had reportedly withdrew Rs 25,000 as subsidy on low HP (25HP) tractors. The SAS also has plans to launch low-priced passengers and loading three-wheelers with CKD sourced form China within five six months from now. |
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