|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 4 August 2002 |
 |
|
 |
Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Massey Ferguson and Browns : 50-year sales relationship by Chitra Weerasinghe Massey Ferguson tractors, of which the TE-20 was the first model to be introduced in Sri Lanka by Brown & Co. Ltd. in 1952, and which pioneered the mechanisation of agriculture, are the most popular in the market; they enjoy leadership position; and are also sought after for their resale value. If Harry Ferguson of Belfast, Ireland, who developed this four-wheel tractor's technology, had been alive today, he would have been proud of Sri Lanka since his one ambition in life was to provide more food for people, keep the population in comfort and the machinery at affordable prices, said Paul R. Murray, Regional Manager, AGCO Limited at a recent media briefing. Murray was in Sri Lanka along with Mike Slinger, General Sales Manager (Asia Pacific) to celebrate Massey Ferguson's 50-year association with Brown and Co. Ltd., in their service to the island's agriculture and industry. He described their tractor as a safe, secure investment that gives a good working life and said there were many machines here today that despite being 30 to 40 years old, were still in good working condition and so had stood the test of time. Slinger said AGCO, the company that owns Massey Ferguson, had a US$ 2.3 billion turnover. Browns Deputy Chairman M. Theagarajah recalled how they had got Lankan farmers to use their tractors. "We went to the fields and with music, demonstrated the way a tractor worked. Then in 1960, we established a finance company to assist needy farmers with loans. The second-hand value of these tractors was good and the quality standards so high that everyone who had used our tractors or intended using a tractor went in for a Massey Ferguson despite other tractors entering the market", said Theagarajah. "We did not sell a tractor and forget about it. We ensured support through a trained dealer network and had a comprehensive range of support services that helped owners and operators to seek the best possible advice and guidance before buying, and the best possible back-up service. If there was a complaint, it was attended to immediately for a farmer could not waste time". Browns Director (Agriculture), Lasantha Wickremesooriya said right now there were about 25,000 Massey Ferguson tractors in Lanka with about 6,000 to 7,000 reconditioned ones. Since 1952 several models of Massey Ferguson tractors had been introduced such as the MF 135, MF 240, MF 2405, MF 390, and MF 4240 ranging from 47 horsepower to 110 horsepower. Different countries had different agricultural systems and needs and therefore the range of horsepower differed. Sri Lanka used the 47 hp tractor. The 20,000th tractor was sold in 1995. These tractors are used in many sectors of the industry such as paddy farming, tea, rubber and coconut plantations, the construction industry, local government organisations, forestry and fisheries. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
