Can Green Power Replace Fossil-fueled Tractors?

JMK Research & Analytics estimated diesel tractors contributed 7.4 per cent of the country's yearly fuel consumption.

- Suchetana Choudhury

The continuous use of diesel tractors has further caused greenhouse gas emissions to rise, with India thereby accounting for 7.3 percent of world emissions, primarily from transportation and agriculture at the rate of 8.36 percent and 14 per cent, respectively. The headwinds of growing global concerns on ecological balance and sustainability therefore influenced the transition towards the electrification of tractors and adoption of advanced electric tractors to reduce these emissions. The effective implementation of e-tractors in India will require a thorough and cooperative effort from several sectors. The Indian agricultural ecosystem's quicker adoption of e-tractors will promote early market development, giving homegrown producers the chance to expand their worldwide leadership in e-tractor production and open up export markets.

The concept of electric tractors (e-tractors) however is still at a nascent stage in India. However, over time, the nation shall embrace and advance in electrification, creating ample opportunities for the e-tractors market to develop soon. In India, diesel tractors account for around 8.81 lakh registered units or 3.57 per cent of the total vehicle population in FY2024. The country continues to be a dominant player in the segment thereby exporting 10.33 per cent of the manufactured tractors to the international markets.

The diesel tractor market has eventually risen at a CAGR of 8.29 per cent between FY2016 and FY2024, indicating an enormous prospective in this sector. The top five companies made up roughly 85 per cent of the market share in FY2024.