Tractor ownership in UP surges over 62% in eight years
In Uttar Pradesh, the increasing presence of tractors in the fields reflects not just changing agricultural practices but also a growing sense of optimism and prosperity among farmers
In the heartland of India, tractors have become more than just machines — they are now symbols of progress, pride, and prosperity. In Uttar Pradesh, the hum of engines in the fields is steadily replacing the once-familiar sight of bullocks ploughing the land, signaling a dramatic transformation in the state’s agricultural landscape.
Once a measure of status was how many bullocks stood outside a farmer’s home. Today, it’s the horsepower parked beside the barn. This mechanisation is not only changing how agriculture is done but also lifting the morale of the farming community. Tractors are helping farmers move away from back-breaking manual labor and toward a more efficient, productive future.
According to officials from the state agriculture department, tractor ownership in Uttar Pradesh has surged by over 62 per cent in the last eight years. In 2016–17, the number of tractors in the state stood at 88,000. By 2024–25, that figure had climbed to 1,42,200, reflecting a rising appetite for modern farming tools among the rural population.
With its nine agro-climatic zones, fertile Indo-Gangetic plains, plentiful water resources, and large agricultural workforce, Uttar Pradesh is being positioned as the “food basket of the country.”
To realise this vision, the government is encouraging a fusion of traditional agricultural wisdom with modern scientific techniques. Through platforms like Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and the Million Farmers’ School programme, farmers are being educated about new technologies, climate-resilient practices, and efficient use of inputs.
Several long-pending irrigation projects—including the Bansagar, National Saryu Canal, and Arjun Sahayak projects—have been completed, significantly increasing irrigation coverage and making farming more reliable. Additionally, procurement systems for wheat and paddy have become more transparent, with assured Minimum Support Price (MSP) payments and inclusion of more crops such as millets under the MSP framework.
Sugarcane farmers—nearly 50 lakh in number—have particularly benefited from timely payments, modernisation and expansion of sugar mills, and the implementation of central schemes like PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi. Access to quality seeds and fertilizers has also improved, contributing to record output in pulses, oilseeds, and other key crops.
With rising farm incomes, the demand for tractors has naturally followed. But tractors today are no longer just for tilling. They are being used to level fields, spray pesticides, sow seeds, plant and harvest potatoes, and even manage crop residue. The state government has bolstered this trend by offering up to 50 per cent subsidy on various tractor-powered implements, lowering the cost of modernisation for small and marginal farmers.
This mechanisation has helped reduce labour costs and increased operational efficiency during critical farming stages — from land preparation and sowing to harvesting and threshing.
The trend isn’t unique to Uttar Pradesh. Across India, tractor sales are poised for a record-breaking year, with 10 lakh units expected to be sold in FY 2025 — the highest ever. This follows the 2023 record of 939,713 units and 867,597 units sold in FY 2024. Experts attribute this expected surge to a strong Rabi harvest, favorable monsoon forecasts, and stable commodity prices, which have renewed farmer confidence nationwide.
In the fields of Uttar Pradesh, this shift is visible and audible — a hum of change, as more farmers trade wooden ploughs for powerful engines and age-old anxieties for a newfound sense of empowerment.
In Uttar Pradesh, the increasing presence of