Tractors: business community concerned at increasing GST

Agriculturists as well as business community have expressed its concern on increasing the General Sales Tax on tractors by 17 percent. Resultantly, the price of tractors has increased Rs 1, 75,000. They have called for the withdrawal of an increase of General Sales Tax on tractor industry from 10 percent.
The decision had hit the production of tractors in Pakistan which fell to merely 12,000 from 75,000 per annum. Now it would also hit the entire agriculture sector hard besides rendering thousands of skilled workers jobless. In a memorandum to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif , Ministry of Industries and Production, Finance, the Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry's sub-committee on engineering headed by Mian Iqbal Hassan said the tractor assemblers and their hundreds of vendors fear a severe drop in sales as a result of massive hike in GST with effect from 1st January 2014. The 17 percent GST to be paid by the country's farmers which will further curtail their ability to purchase tractors. Despite producing the cheapest tractor in the world, the farmer is still not able to afford a tractor and requires support in the form of subsidies and soft loans from the government to purchase a tractor. President of Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Khawaja Muhammad Usman said with no subsidies on tractors in the current federal and provincial budgets, meagre loaning by ZTBL in the absence of a Federal Agricultural Ministry (thanks to the 18th amendment) and GST set to go to 17 percent under IMF pressure, will all add up to massive drop in tractor sales.
The MCCI president said that Pakistan lags far behind India in crop yield, crop intensity and number of tractors per hectare. According to agri experts Pakistan currently needs 800,000 more tractors to match India in per hectare tractor population. He said that an industry with installed capacity of 100,000 units per annum is expected to close the current financial year with less than 30,000 units. This means 70 percent drop in revenues for the FBR from this industry in the fiscal year 2013-14. In sharp contrast India with 0 percent central GST, will close this year with the highest ever production of over 600,000 tractors, ie, 20 times higher than Pakistan. Mian Iqbal Hassan, a senior member of MCCI said drop in tractor sales means unemployment for thousands of skilled workers who work in hundreds of factories producing tractor parts for the tractor assembly plants.
He said that it was a good omen for the manufacturing sector that the government had decided to unveil new industrial and auto policies but he hoped the consultation with the stakeholders would be ensured before finalising these documents.

Source: Business recorder

How to Maintain a Tractor

Edited by BR, Sondra C, Kitsune, Martyn P

Correctly maintaining a tractor will add years to its useful life. However, there are some basic differences in maintaining a tractor from other vehicles. Also, since there are many different types and brands of tractors, there is no comprehensive maintenance guide that's universally applicable to all types of tractors, but following these steps should help.

Steps

1.  
   
   The Owner's Manual should be your first source of information
   Study your owner's manual. The manufacturer has specific instructions for basic care of your equipment, and they have the expertise to give you the best advice on how to do it. If you don't have a manual, get one. Here are some items you should find in the Owner's Manual:
   • Maintenance Schedule. This will tell you the intervals for routine maintenance, including chassis lubrication, engine, transmission, and hydraulic oil change, filter changes, and other maintenance items.
   • 
     Tractor hydraulic oil has different viscosities and additives, so check the label before you buy.
     Specifications. This should be a table telling you the type of fluid for the transmission, hydraulic system, brakes, and engine coolant, as well as their capacities. Tire inflation, bolt torques, and other information may be found under specifications or other sections of the manual.
   • Location of lubricant points (grease fittings), fluid check dipsticks or sight glasses, and instructions on cleaning air and fuel filters.
   • Basic operating instructions and other information specific to your tractor.
   
   
2.  
   
   Some tools required for normal tractor maintenance
   Obtain tools. Tractor maintenance requires numerous wrenches and other tools in larger sizes than for automobile maintenance, so plan to buy or borrow the tools you need.
3.  
   
   Protect the tractor from the elements.
   Protect the tractor from the elements. Because most smaller farm (or garden) tractors do not have a cabin to protect the seat, instrument panel, and metal components, it is a good idea to store it in a shed or garage. If you can't do this, keep rain out of the exhaust system, and cover the seat and instruments.
4.  
   Check fluids regularly. Tractor usage is measured in hours, not miles, so the amount of use may be deceptive, and leaking components may cause failure of expensive parts. Refer to the owner's manual to determine how each fluid is checked.
   •
   
   A typical tractor engine oil dipstick
   Check the engine oil.
   •
   
   Transmission filler cap/dipstick assembly, located on the top of the gearbox
   Check the transmission fluid.
   • Check the coolant in the radiator.
   • Check the hydraulic oil.
   • Check the battery electrolyte.
5.  
   
   Check tire inflation.
   Check tire inflation. Because of the shape, low inflation is not always obvious. Rear tires normally have between 12 and 20 PSI inflation pressure, the front tires may have up to 32 PSI. The back tires on farm tractors should be filled with ballast, especially if you are pulling an implement where maximum traction is required. Usually this ballast is water with an antifreeze solution added.
6.  
   
   View of the fan belt and upper radiator hose with the tractor hood up
   Keep an eye on belts and hoses. If your tractor is equipped with a hydraulic system, it has high pressure hoses and/or tubing, and failure of this fluid conduit can cause component (hydraulic pump) failure, loss of steering, or other problems. If a hose (or belt) appears damaged, worn, or cracked, replace it. If fittings or connections are leaking, tighten them or replace the seals.
7.  
   
   Tractors have independent rear wheel brakes to assist in turning. Note two pedals.
   Keep the brake linkages lubricated, and make sure the brakes are adjusted equally. Many tractors have mechanical brakes, operated by a linkage and cam system instead of a master/slave fluid system. These brakes are located on the rear axles, and work independently, so that they may be used to steer the tractor in tight corners or to reverse the direction of travel. The brake pedals will interlock for road travel, so that one pedal is not accidentally engaged by itself, causing the tractor to spin while traveling at a high speed.
8.  
   Watch the gauges. Keep an eye on the temperature, oil pressure, and tachometer.
   • The temperature gauge should be marked with a normal operating range, but any time the indicator says the temperature is over 220 degrees F, the engine is running hot.
   • If equipped with a diesel engine, the oil pressure should be between 40 and 60 PSI.
   • The tachometer tells how many revolutions per minute the crankshaft is turning. Diesel engines are designed to operate at lower RPM and higher torque than gasoline engines, and "over revving" your engine, or operating it at maximum RPMs is not recommended.
9.  
   Check the filters regularly. Most systems on tractors are equipped with filters to protect against dirt, water, or other contaminants that could cause failure of the components.
   • 
      See-through Engine fuel filter to allow you to see water in the fuel filter bowl
     Check the fuel filter for accumulated water. Most diesel engines have a water separating filter, since diesel fuel attracts moisture.
   • 
     Turbocharged diesels use tremendous amounts of air, which can cause filters to clog quickly in dusty conditions.
     Check the air filter often. Tractors are often operated in very dusty conditions, and in some cases, the filters must be cleaned daily or weekly. Clean the air filter with a shop vacuum or with compressed air, never by washing it. Replace the air filter when it cannot be cleaned satisfactorily, or if the filter is damaged.
     
     
   
   
10.  
    
    Raise the hood to check the radiator for accumulated debris.
    Check the radiator screen. Tractors are often operated in conditions where debris may accumulate on the radiator, so they usually have a front screen or grill to prevent plant matter, insects, or pollen from clogging the radiator.
11.  
    
    Not all of your tractor's grease fittings are this easy to locate.
    Lubricate your tractor. Tractors have many more moving parts that require greasing than do automobiles. If you see a part that moves, look for a grease fitting, and grease it. Use a grease cartridge pressure gun, clean the fitting, attach the hose, and pump grease until the associated seal begins to expand, or grease is seen oozing out of the attachment you are lubricating. Look for grease fittings on steering components, brake and clutch linkages, and three-point hitch pivot points.
    • Older tractors require specific lubricants in the gear boxes. Often, the hydraulic system and the transaxle share fluid, and using the wrong fluid can cause serious damage.
12.  
    Do not overload your tractor. If you are using your tractor for cultivation or mowing, it should have a recommended size attachment for the job you are doing. As an example, do not pull an eight foot mower with a 35 horsepower tractor.
13.  
    Keep your tractor clean This will help you to spot damaged components and leaks, and see if trash or debris is causing problems.

Source

Pakistan may Start importing Indian Tractors next year

Unlike a lot of industries, the local tractor industry is not war of opening of trade with India. In fact, it is looking forward to it. Universal Traders are in talks with an Indian counterpart to start importing tractors to Pakistan once the negative list is phased out and trade with India opens up next year.

Escorts Limited and Universal Tractors of Pakistan will collaborate next year to import 7,500 tractors. It is interesting that the two companies have been working together since 2003. However because of the ban on imports from India, these tractors were being imported from sister concerns of the Indian company from Norway and the US, at much higher cost.

The two companies are now hopeful that with the removal of the negative list tractors will be legally imported from India which will also help in combating smuggling.

The tractors will not be imported as a CKD and assembled in Pakistan. The assembly plant was commissioned under the tenure of former prime minister Shaukat Aziz and is already at an advanced stage of completion. Rajiv Kumar, Head of Exports at Escorts Limited spoke to The Express Tribune said that his company is already exporting to over 60 countries. Kumar also said that the company was initially set up in partnership with Ford in the 1960s. Ford left India in 1996 and since then the company is a full-fledged Indian enterprise. The company started off with an annual production of 20,000 tractors which has now gone up to 80,000. Basically this means that an Escorts tractor is manufactured every four minutes. The total Indian market for tractors is 650,000 a year.

Kumar also said that where Indian tractors would prove beneficial in overcoming the shortfall in the demand for tractors in Pakistan, there was no reason why Pakistani tractors could not make a foothold in the vast Indian market. He also spoke about the possibility of assembling in Pakistan for further onward exports.

Managing Director of Universal Tractors Pakistan, Muhammad Iqbal told The Express Tribune that they had imported 100 Indian tractors since 2003 through their European and American enterprises. He further said that once the negative list was phased out they planned on importing 28,500 tractors over the next three years. Iqbal also said that with the shortfall in demand of 20,000 tractors annually in Pakistan, imports from India would benefit agriculture. He said that Indian tractors were not more expensive than local tractors and would become even cheaper after local assembly.

Iqbal said that at present Pakistan needed 650,000 tractors immediately. He also said that the transport of tractors would be cheaper because of easy access from Wagah border.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15th, 2012.

Pakistan may Start importing Indian Tractors next year

Unlike a lot of industries, the local tractor industry is not war of opening of trade with India. In fact, it is looking forward to it. Universal Traders are in talks with an Indian counterpart to start importing tractors to Pakistan once the negative list is phased out and trade with India opens up next year.

Escorts Limited and Universal Tractors of Pakistan will collaborate next year to import 7,500 tractors. It is interesting that the two companies have been working together since 2003. However because of the ban on imports from India, these tractors were being imported from sister concerns of the Indian company from Norway and the US, at much higher cost.

The two companies are now hopeful that with the removal of the negative list tractors will be legally imported from India which will also help in combating smuggling.

The tractors will not be imported as a CKD and assembled in Pakistan. The assembly plant was commissioned under the tenure of former prime minister Shaukat Aziz and is already at an advanced stage of completion. Rajiv Kumar, Head of Exports at Escorts Limited spoke to The Express Tribune said that his company is already exporting to over 60 countries. Kumar also said that the company was initially set up in partnership with Ford in the 1960s. Ford left India in 1996 and since then the company is a full-fledged Indian enterprise. The company started off with an annual production of 20,000 tractors which has now gone up to 80,000. Basically this means that an Escorts tractor is manufactured every four minutes. The total Indian market for tractors is 650,000 a year.

Kumar also said that where Indian tractors would prove beneficial in overcoming the shortfall in the demand for tractors in Pakistan, there was no reason why Pakistani tractors could not make a foothold in the vast Indian market. He also spoke about the possibility of assembling in Pakistan for further onward exports.

Managing Director of Universal Tractors Pakistan, Muhammad Iqbal told The Express Tribune that they had imported 100 Indian tractors since 2003 through their European and American enterprises. He further said that once the negative list was phased out they planned on importing 28,500 tractors over the next three years. Iqbal also said that with the shortfall in demand of 20,000 tractors annually in Pakistan, imports from India would benefit agriculture. He said that Indian tractors were not more expensive than local tractors and would become even cheaper after local assembly.

Iqbal said that at present Pakistan needed 650,000 tractors immediately. He also said that the transport of tractors would be cheaper because of easy access from Wagah border.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15th, 2012.