Club of bologna proceedings

Sandro LIBERATORI 
Maybe we can organise some specific tests for 
special or different conditions of use of machi-
nes. Because of course normal tests cannot be 
good for all the conditions in the whole world. 
Otherwise it would be a test lasting ten years 
maybe. But for specific markets we can give a 
service to the manufacturer and to the farmers 
of those markets, testing the machines accor-
ding to our common methodologies including 
some extra tests.
 
Gajendra SINGH 
India has quite an extensive testing set-up. We 
started following the OECD codes for testing 
tractors and sophisticated machinery in a test 
station in central India, and because the market 
is so big - and the Indian country is so big - we 
have set up four regional stations. One in north 
India, one in the eastern part of India, and one 
in south India. As a matter of fact the test is a 
must for tractors and bigger machinery. Without 
the test, or without acceptable results, farmers 
buying that machine do not qualify to get a bank 
loan which is at a reduced rate compared to the 
commercial rate. Because the commercial rate 
might around 16% now, while agricultural ma-
chinery loans are available at 9 to 10%. So I 
think there is an incentive there. Also, from time 
to time the government allocates a subsidy to 
promote certain types of equipment, which are 
considered to be useful in agriculture, and no 
item qualifies for subsidy without being pro-
perly tested. So I think that as long as there is 
an incentive or some kind of a promotion, it’s 
easy. However for certain items - the smaller 
ones which manufacturers are selling directly to 
the farmers, testing is not compulsory if the 
farmers are not applying for a loan. Because 
they don’t then see any reason for it, and the 
manufacturer also doesn’t see a reason, if they 
can sell the thing and the farmer is willing to 
buy it.
 

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