19April, Delhi : With a view to review the activities of training, testing and demonstration in the agricultural mechanization field being undertaken by the Central Farm Machinery Training & Testing Institute, Budni, (M.P), Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, (Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare) visited the institute and interacted with farmers. During his visit, he interacted with the Director and staff of the institute and inspected the various training and testing laboratories. The institute is the only tractor testing centre in the country and also a National designated authority for testing of tractors as per OECD Standards, which promotes export of the tractors. The institute is also authorized by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for testing of tractors, power tillers, combine harvesters and other self-propelled agricultural machines under Central Motor Vehicle Act. The Institute also has testing laboratory for mass emission of exhaust gases of engines which is an essential requirement under CMVR. He appreciated the infrastructure developed by the institute and the great work being done by the institute for promotion of agricultural mechanization in the country.In order to promote drone technologies in agriculture, the CFMTTI Budni is already in the process of getting recognition from DGCA as Remote Pilot Training Organization (RPTO), where drone pilots will be trained. The Institute, through industry associations, is also in the process to upgrade the existing training facilities to develop it with the state of the art global facilities and as a Centre of Excellence in Farm Mechanization. The load car, which is tailormade equipment for drawbar performance of tractors, is the only one of its kind available in Budni institute which was received by the institute from UK in 1988. Efforts are being made to indigenously develop this load car with latest Data Acquisition System in association with Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
