Maharashtra - CNH Industrial NV., an agricultural machinery manufacturer, has completed India’s largest-ever single farm machinery delivery, handing over 117 Case IH sugarcane harvesters and 234 New Holland tractors to the Deshmukh (Manjra) Group in Maharashtra’s Latur district. The ceremony, presided over by CNH CEO Gerrit Marx, marks a major push for mechanisation in the country’s sugarcane sector.
Traditionally labour-intensive, sugarcane harvesting in India has faced rising labour shortages and tight harvesting windows. CNH’s growing supply of harvesters is aimed at solving these challenges, enabling timely harvesting, higher productivity, and better farmer incomes.
The Deshmukh (Manjra) Group, a key player in Maharashtra’s sugar industry, has steadily expanded its machinery fleet, which previously included 45 harvesters and 90 tractors. With this record delivery, its operational capacity has increased nearly fourfold, improving efficiency and value creation for both farmers and sugar mills.
Mr. Dhiraj Vilasrao Deshmukh, Director of Manjra Group, credited CNH’s reliability for the long-standing partnership. Mr. Narinder Mittal, Chairman and Managing Director of CNH India, said the delivery would boost mechanisation, cut costs, and raise farm productivity, stressing that modern machinery is critical for India’s sugarcane sector, which supports millions of livelihoods.
While the delivery strengthens mechanisation, challenges remain around operator training, service availability, and adaptation to varied soil and field conditions. Still, the deal signals a decisive shift: India’s sugarcane industry is moving rapidly toward technology-driven, efficient, and profitable farming systems.