In an exclusive interview, Narinder Mittal, President – India, CNH, delves into how the company is spearheading a revolution in agricultural mechanisation. As sustainability becomes a pivotal focus for industries worldwide, CNH is at the forefront, integrating eco-friendly practices into the design and production of farm equipment.
Mittal shares insights into the cutting-edge technologies driving efficiency, reducing environmental impact, and ensuring productivity for B2B customers. From precision farming innovations to collaborative efforts with researchers and farmers, CNH is paving the way for a sustainable and technologically advanced future in agriculture. Read on to discover how CNH is balancing the demands for high-performance machinery with the urgent need for sustainability.
How are farm equipment manufacturers integrating sustainability principles into the design and production of agricultural machinery for the B2B sector?
The farm equipment industry, including CNH, recognizes the critical importance of sustainability in the sector. We employ advanced technologies and follow a design criteria focusing on sustainability to ensure our agricultural machinery minimizes resource consumption while maximizing productivity.
At CNH, during the design phase, we focus on improving product performance to reduce environmental impact and total cost of ownership. This includes optimizing fuel consumption, energy efficiency, durability, and maintenance cycles to minimize CO2 and other polluting emissions. We prioritize selecting components with lower environmental footprints, with easy dismantling, and remanufacturing capabilities, while eliminating regulated substances that risk human health and environment.
Additionally, we aim to enhance efficiency and reduce noise emissions during product use. Moreover, we prioritize the use of easily recyclable materials, such as recoverable metals and low-solvent content paints, when designing components for our new products. By integrating sustainability principles into our design and production processes, we are committed to driving positive environmental outcomes while meeting the needs of our customers and the agricultural industry as a whole.
What specific technologies or features are being implemented to enhance efficiency and reduce environmental impact in farm equipment?
CNH is committed to providing the world class technology and appropriate features to the farmers. The few recent features which have hugely benefitted the farmers and industry are below:
- AntiVortex™ for Sugarcane Harvesters: With advent of this feature the Trash content in the harvested billet-cane has gone down significantly, thereby ensuring clean cane harvesting for the farmers. This feature has benefitted both the cane farmers and sugar mills immensely.
- Smart Cruise™ for Tractors and Self Propelled Forage Harvesters: This features ensures that optimum power is withdrawn from the engine according to crop load conditions, thereby increasing fuel efficiency.
- Advanced Telematics solutions are helping customers for fleet management and to control the operations remotely, especially in Big Balers. This further helps in optimizing inputs, faster decision-making, reducing wastages and increasing production.
Can you share any successful case studies or examples where sustainable farm equipment has led to improved productivity and profitability for B2B customers?
We have sold our Large Square Balers (LSB) and T7 (170hp) tractors to some of our B2B customers. The complete baling solution consists of the LSB, Big Tractor (T7), Gyro Rake and Tractor for Haulage. It has helped the customers to ensure the biomass requirements for their entire year is met within the short period of 40 days.
Our solution has helped in capacity building of our B2B customers with enhanced productivity, profitability and convenience. This has also:
- Enhanced baling productivity in the field
- High Density Bale formation
- Swift clearance of farmer fields under stipulated time
- Economical transportation cost due to dense bales
- Savings in stacking and storage cost
- Easy feeding of the bales in the boiler’s conveyers
- Maintaining the feed rate of boilers with Big Bales producing better heat value
These customers are among the largest aggregators of biomass in India and possess our fleet of Big Balers.
How do you see the adoption of precision farming technologies influencing the future of agricultural mechanization?
The adoption of precision farming technologies is revolutionizing agricultural mechanization. Technologies such as GPS, drones, and sensors are becoming increasingly integrated and developed, enabling farmers to monitor crop health, optimize irrigation and fertilizer use, and minimize waste. By integrating these technologies with farm equipment, we can achieve far more precise and efficient operations in everyday farming practices.
At CNH, we have been leading the charge in precision farming technology in India. We have introduced a range of advanced technologies and digital solutions aimed at improving the efficiency and productivity of farming operations. Additionally, we are actively piloting and testing low-cost value solutions specifically tailored for the Indian market.
With the gradual integration of precision farming technologies into farm equipment, the future of mechanization looks promising. This collaboration between technology and machinery will drive innovation, improve sustainability, and revolutionize the way we cultivate and harvest crops for years to come.
What challenges do manufacturers face in balancing the need for sustainability with the demand for high-performance farm equipment?
Agriculture projects require powerful and reliable equipment to meet deadlines and handle demanding tasks for which sustainability measures do not compromise the performance and functionality of the equipment, would require careful consideration. Developing equipment that’s both powerful and eco-friendly necessitates innovation. Manufacturers must innovate to develop solutions that optimize performance while minimizing environmental impact.
Additionally, meeting sustainability goals often requires investments in research and development to develop new technologies and materials. Moreover, there is the challenge of meeting regulatory requirements and industry standards while still delivering high-performance equipment. Manufacturers must navigate complex regulatory landscapes and ensure compliance with environmental regulations without sacrificing the quality and reliability of their products.
In what ways are regulatory requirements and consumer preferences driving innovation in the B2B agriculture machinery sector?
Regulatory standards related to emissions, safety, and environmental sustainability are compelling manufacturers to develop more efficient, cleaner, and environmentally friendly machinery. This has led to innovations in engine technology, emissions control systems, and the use of alternative fuels. Consumer demands also go hand-in-hand with this, as increasingly agricultural businesses prioritize sustainability, efficiency, and productivity. We have recently completed our engine production facility, adjacent to our current Greater Noida operations to address requirements of the upcoming emission standards – BS TREM V. The same facility will cater to both domestic and international markets, as the transition to cleaner emission regulations have opened up new markets for exports.
Moreover, consumer demand for automation and connectivity in agricultural machinery is driving innovation towards autonomous and interconnected systems. These technologies enable seamless communication between different pieces of equipment, enhancing efficiency and reducing labor requirements.
How important is collaboration between equipment manufacturers, agricultural researchers, and farmers in developing and implementing sustainable mechanization solutions?
A collaborative approach allows for the sharing of knowledge, expertise, and resources to address the complex challenges facing the agricultural sector. Farmers, as end-users of agricultural machinery, provide invaluable insights into real-world challenges and opportunities. And by working closely with researchers, farm equipment manufacturers can get the insights to help ensure that new technologies are practical, effective, and aligned with the needs of farmers.
At CNH, we actively engage with academic institutions and global working groups to promote the development of cutting-edge innovations and to expand its own wealth of knowledge and skills. We have ongoing collaborations with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (ICAR-CITH), Srinagar to collaborate on fruit harvesting technology in India. We also actively engage with customers through Customer-Driven Product Definition (CDPD) process, where CNH customers actively participate in the early definition development and testing of new models. CDPD consists in: collecting feedback from customers; analyzing their suggestions; meeting with product platform teams; customer testing of new model prototypes followed by a comparison of their main features; and integrating customer suggestions into final product specifications. All of these stages lead to product designs that not only ensure optimal performance and efficiency, but also meet the needs of the customers who work with CNH machines every day.
