CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NOVEMBER 2016

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS

NOVEMBER 2016

AGRICULTURE

BETTER TRACTION IN VINEYARDS WITH BKT TYRES

ndian tyre manufacturer BKT has

launched a new tyre range specifical-

ly designed to respond to the complex

needs of the terrains in vineyards and or-

chards. Limited soil compaction, high load

capacity and enhanced traction are the

peculiar traits of these products, which

do not only provide high performance, but

also allow time, fuel and money savings.

BKT row crop tyres are suitable for di-

verse applications and manifold types of

machinery. They are available in numerous

sizes. They can be divided into products for

tractors, sprayers and grape harvesters, into

products for field and road transport, soil till-

age, spraying and grape harvesting.

Among the product lines for vineyards and

orchards, BKT’s top-of-the range product is

Agrimax Spargo. This tyre line has been de-

veloped with VF Technology, thanks to which

it is able to carry heavy loads at a lower tyre

pressure, thus limiting the negative effects

of soil compaction. The tyre can be used both

in the fields and during road transfers.

Agrimax Spargo stands for a more effec-

tive, more versatile and more sustainable

agriculture, and is currently available in the

four sizes: VF 380/85 R 38, VF 380/90 R 46,

VF 380/105 R 50 and 420/95 R 50.

Meanwhile, Agrimax RT 955 is the ideal

BKT radial tyre for heavy machinery and

row crop applications, vineyard harvesting,

and in some sizes for spraying applications.

Benefits for this tyre include optimal stability,

excellent traction and best self-cleaning

properties, as well as the continuous contact

with the soil. The rounded shoulder has been

specifically conceived to preserve the

soil and the delicate crops from possible

damages.

Similar features offers the Agrimax RT 945

pattern, available in seven different sizes.

The tyre has been specially developed with

a narrow tyre tread to protect vineyards and

plant roots. Its self-cleaning properties make

it ideal for road transfers, too.

Agrimax RT 855 and Agrimax RT 765 are

said to be perfect for grape harvesting and

row crop spraying, and for combined road

and field transport alike. Therefore, they

enable frequent transfers, which are typical

for these kinds of applications. The first is a

radial tyre that combines high load capacity

and sound flotation performance. It is avail-

able in as many as 44 different sizes.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has

announced a new EUR 30 million facility

for the financing of private sector projects

in Malawi with the National Bank of

Malawi (NBM).

The initiative, developed together with

USAID and ACE, will enhance the access to

finance for private sector companies and

will primarily target the development of

agricultural storage capacity in the coun-

try. As such, it will contribute to key de-

velopmental priorities of Malawi, includ-

ing private sector development, increased

food security and reduction of poverty.

Another main priority is support for higher

resilience towards climate change by miti-

gating food supply volatility due to adverse

weather events.

“The lack of agricultural storage facilities

has been an issue for the development of the

agriculture sector in Malawi,” says Robert

Schofield, head of EIB’s Global Partners’

Financial Sector Division. “The EIB facility

aims to address this issue to the benefit

of the farmers as well as the Malawian

authorities by improving market transparency

and providing information for a more efficient

agriculture policy.”

“This facility will bring in EUR 30 million

worth of new agro storage assets which

will greatly reduce post-harvest losses

in Malawi and help in improving national

development,” says Dr George Partridge,

CEO of NBM. “According to the African Post

Harvest Losses Information System of the

Monitoring Agriculture Resources, Malawi

loses over 23% of its maize crop due to post

harvest loss due to a variety of reasons,

chief among them, is the absence of quality

grain storage facilities. This facility will go

a long way to reduce these post-harvest

losses. Through this facility National Bank

of Malawi wants to positively contribute

to the National Development by increasing

smallholder farmers’ access to quality grain

storage facilities. This will be achieved by

making available 30% of the space in each

and every agristorage facility to smallholder

farmers participating in the Warehouse

Receipts System offered by the Agriculture

Commodity Exchange.”

The initiative will aim to support agri-stor-

age projects with high developmental im-

pact. These projects will consist of new stor-

age capacity for agricultural commodities,

which will be certified under a warehouse

receipt system (WRS) and made available

to third parties. This approach is intended to

stimulate a wider inclusion of farmers in the

national WRS, under which farmers can use

warehouse receipts as collateral to enhance

access to financing. The inclusion of new

storage capacity in a WRS will also improve

market transparency and provide information

for a more efficient agriculture policy aimed

at managing and improving food security.

The Agrimax RT 657 tyre is ideal for both soil

tillage and road transport.

EU BANK SUPPORTS MALAWIAN AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

“The EIB facility aims to

address this issue to the

benefit of the farmers as

well as the Malawian

authorities by improving

market transparency

and providing information

for a more efficient

agriculture policy.”