More than 500 John Deere tractors will be available for Northwest India farmers' use as an offshoot of a pact between a subcontinental state and the world's biggest agricultural equipment manufacturer, who earlier this week announced it will invest $100 million to expand interests in India.
According to Washington Bangla Radio, more than 50,000 farm families in Gujarat will benefit from the Public Private Partnership between the two entities. Deere will open 84 agricultural centers to help till more than 50,000 acres of fertile land in the land that a civic leader said has notched "phenomenal growth."
"This has not only been in overall Gross Domestic Product growth terms, where we have registered double digit growth, but also in all our key sectors," chief minister Narendra Modi said. "Industry has grown at 13 percent during this period, agriculture has grown at 9.6 percent over the past 7 years, and the per capita income of our people at 13.8 percent."
The pact, which is set for a five-year period, will see 529 John Deere tractors at the disposal of tribal farmers. They'll have to go through one of the 84 stores that will be staffed by trained operators and service staff. Farmers need only pay for tractors' operating and maintenance costs.
"The current PPP - the first of its kind in the agriculture sector nationwide - is a shining example of such a program that will help empower and provide economic wealth to our marginalized farmers and tribal brethren," Modi said.
Pact to see Deere widen interests in NW India
The Northwest India state Gujarat will see benefits from John Deere's $100 million investment in the country, which was announced earlier this week.