Escorts Kubota, an India based machinery manufacturer, has launched its new combine harvester, PRO588i-G, for the major north Indian markets of Punjab and Haryana. Unlike conventional full feed harvesters, this harvester cuts the crop’s stalk near its base, allowing the full length of straw to be collected and reused for cattle feed or as a raw material in biomass. Escorts Kubota’s new harvester holds the potential to provide farmers with a profitable alternative to stubble burning, thereby helping to reduce air pollution in North India.
Designed in Japan, the PRO588i-G features a special threshing mechanism that considerably reduces breakage of the fragile long grains of Basmati rice during threshing, a common issue with conventional harvesters. It helps maintain the full size of the paddy grain, enhancing their market value and export potential.
PRO588i-G: Lighter, Smarter Harvester
The PRO588i-G weighs 2700 kilograms which is, noticeably lighter than the conventional harvesters, which typically weigh around 9000 kilograms. This helps reduce the compactness of the soil when this new harvester plies on the field, impacting the overall ploughing effort and land preparation cost for the farmers for their next crop cycle. The new harvester can also be paired with crawler to ease operations in wet fields and has features an ergonomic design that facilitates easier handling during long working hours.
At Escorts Kubota, we are deeply committed to introduce innovations that can positively transform lives of India’s farmers. Our new Kubota combine harvester is a testament to the same. Its unique features, designed in Japan, not only offer more profit potential to our ‘Annadatas’ but can also help address the menace of air pollution in North India
Akira Kato, Deputy Managing Director at Escorts Kubota, stated that the new launch aligns with the company’s plans to introduce game-changing innovations that can meaningfully transform Indian agriculture, increase productivity and profitability, and support sustainability goals through precision farming solutions. Additionally, Rajan Chugh, Chief Officer of the Agri Solutions Business Division, said that the company is a category leader in paddy crop applications, with world-class harvesters and rice transplanters, and that this new addition to the product family will further strengthen their market position.
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The company was originally founded as Escorts Agents Limited in Lahore in 1944 and is now headquartered in Faridabad, in the north Indian state of Haryana. The collaboration with Japan’s Kubota Corporation led to the eventual renaming of the company to Escorts Kubota. The company manufactures agricultural tractors under the brand names Farmtrac, Powertrac, and Kubota. The company also supplies combines, planters, sprayers, spare parts, lubricants and tillage equipment. Escorts Kubota is also engaged in production of railway and construction equipment.
Last month, the company expanded its tractor portfolio in India with the launch of Kubota MU4201 tractor, marking the brand’s entry into the 41-44 HP category. The Kubota MU4201 tractor offers an option for farmers looking to upgrade from the 35 HP range to a more powerful category. The tractor can be paired with various implements, such as rotavators, disc harrows, and haulage equipment, enhancing its versatility for Indian farmers.
During the same exhibition, the company also launched upgraded versions of Kubota MU4501 and Kubota MU5502. These tractors use advanced Japanese lift technology, that can lift between 1,640 kg and 2100 kg, powered with best in class lift heights of 455 mm. These tractors can prove to be highly efficient for heavy duty farming operations.