Research article · 2024 · Full text
International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social DevelopmentProblems and suggestions in the operation and utilization of custom hiring centres: As perceived by the service providers and beneficiary farmers
Volume 7(9) · Pages 215–217 · DOI: 10.33545/26180723.2024.v7.i9d.1033 ↗
Research areasRural development and sustainabilityMigration, Ethnicity, and Economy
Abstract
Author-writtenThe present study was conducted on custom hiring centres in five selected districts of Chhattisgarh plains. In case of service providers of CHCs, the majority of service providers expressed payment problem (delay and bargaining to reduce hiring charges by the farmers), high maintenance cost of machinery and implements, some implements are not demanded by the farmers and high cost of fuel as a major problems and most of them expressed the government should be increased the subsidy component of custom hiring centres, implements should be provided by the government in the CHC on the basis of farmers demand, bank process for subsidy should be easy and simple and timely disbursement of government subsidies must be ensured to reduce the financial pressure on custom hiring centres as a major suggestions. In case of beneficiary farmers, the majority of respondents expressed that non-availability of farm machinery during the crop season, Compactness of soil physical condition due to use of heavy machinery viz. combine harvester, tractor, etc., high rental cost and particular crop wise implements are not available in CHCs were the major problems and most of them expressed that number of implements (machinery) should be increased for solving the farmer’s problems particularly in crop session, hiring charges should be reduced, custom hiring centre should be established at panchayat level and particular crop wise implements should be available in CHCs were the major suggestions suggested by the farmers.
Summary
Source-checkedPlain-language reading of the full paper, prepared with AI and checked against the text. Each point links to the authors' own words.
Why it matters
- Indian agriculture is transitioning toward mechanical power because human labor is becoming scarce and maintaining animals is increasingly expensive. View evidence ↗
- The adoption of farm mechanization is critical for improving crop productivity, reducing the physical hardship of labor, and ensuring farming tasks are completed on time. View evidence ↗
- Custom hiring centres (CHCs) are promoted by the Government of Chhattisgarh to provide small and marginal farmers access to expensive machinery they otherwise could not afford. View evidence ↗
The question
- The study aims to identify the problems and gather suggestions regarding the operation and use of custom hiring centres from the perspectives of both service providers and beneficiary farmers. View evidence ↗
What they did
- The research was carried out during 2023-24 across five districts in the Chhattisgarh plains: Raigarh, Rajnandgaon, Raipur, Durg, and Dhamtari. View evidence ↗
- The sample consisted of 385 respondents, including 77 service providers (10% of the 778 CHCs in the area) and 308 beneficiary farmers (4 per selected CHC). View evidence ↗
- Data was gathered using personal interviews conducted with a pre-tested, structured interview schedule. View evidence ↗
What they found
- The most significant problem for service providers was payment issues, including delays and bargaining by farmers, reported by 88.31% of respondents. View evidence ↗
- Other top concerns for service providers included high maintenance costs (74.03%), low demand for certain implements (67.53%), and high fuel costs (63.64%). View evidence ↗
- For beneficiary farmers, the primary issue was the lack of available machinery during the crop season, cited by 95.13% of respondents. View evidence ↗
- Farmers also highlighted soil compaction from heavy machinery (64.61%) and high rental costs (61.04%) as major problems. View evidence ↗
- The top suggestion from service providers was for the government to increase the subsidy component for CHCs, supported by 85.71% of respondents. View evidence ↗
- The most frequent suggestion from farmers (94.48%) was to increase the number of implements available to address shortages during the crop season. View evidence ↗
- Farmers also suggested reducing hiring charges (61.69%) and establishing CHCs at the panchayat level (57.47%). View evidence ↗
What it means
- The authors conclude that payment delays are the primary hurdle for service providers, who strongly recommend increased government subsidies to improve operations. View evidence ↗
- For farmers, the authors conclude that machinery shortages during peak seasons are the main problem, necessitating an increase in the total number of available implements. View evidence ↗
Visual summary
3 visualsIllustrations explain the paper; charts are replotted from the paper's own table values.
The CHC Conflict Loop
AI-generated conceptual illustration (Agricultural machinery and a small-scale farm field). It explains the idea and does not show study data.
View source evidence ↗
Percentage: Payment problem (delay... vs High maintenance cost... vs Some implements are not... vs High cost of fuel.
Replotted from Table 1 (page 2) of the original paper. Every bar is the paper's own table value.
View source evidence ↗
Percentage: Non availability of... vs Compactness of soil... vs High rental cost.
Replotted from Table 2 (page 2) of the original paper. Every bar is the paper's own table value.
View source evidence ↗Figures & tables
From the original paper
Table 1
Table 2
Table 3
Table 4Introduction
Chhattisgarh is a state located in central India, covering 4.1 per cent of the country's geographical area (approximately 135,194 sq km) and accounting about 2.1 per cent of the nation's population (around 30 million). Agriculture is a very labour-intensive occupation that is now dealing with a labour shortage. Increasing urbanization and industrialization further aggravate the shortage of labour. The new work opportunities in off-farm occupation will also add to the pressure to raise efficiency of use of labour on the farm. Hence, Indian agriculture is gradually shifting from relying on human and animal power to mechanical power due to the rising costs of maintaining animals and the increasing scarcity of human labour. The migration of labor from farm to non-farm activities poses a threat to agriculture as it results in a shortage of labor for farming operations. Therefore, the use of mechanical power directly impacts crop productivity, reduces labor drudgery, and ensures the timeliness of farming operations. Therefore, there is a significant need to embrace farm mechanization. Farm mechanization which entails the use of machines to perform several activities on the farm in order to save time, money spent on hiring of labour and most importantly increases the level of production which will automatically lead to a simultaneous increase in the farmer's income. Custom hiring centres (CHCs) are basically a unit comprising a set of farm machinery and implements meant for custom hiring by farmers. Providing farm machinery and implements on custom hiring basis to the farmers in time and at reasonable rates is possible through CHCs. Custom hiring centers are beneficial to small and marginal farmers. Government of Chhattisgarh promoting CHCs in order to make available the high cost of farm machinery and implements within the reach of small and marginal farmers. Custom hiring requires no initial investment or repair and maintenance costs from farmers. Farmers only need to pay rental charges.
Materials and Methods
The study was conducted in five selected districts of Chhattisgarh plains viz. Raigarh, Rajnandgaon, Raipur, Durg and Dhamtari districts of Chhattisgarh state during the year 2023-24. Because these districts were having maximum custom hiring centres. There are 778 custom hiring centres are working in selected districts, out of which 10 per cent custom hiring centres were selected and 4 beneficiary farmers from each custom hiring centres were selected purposively. In this way total 385 (77x4=308+77) respondents (77 service providers of CHC's and 308 beneficiary farmers) were selected. Primary data were collected through personal interview with the help of pretested structured interview schedule. Collected data were tabulated and processed by using appropriate statistical tools. www.extensionjournal.com The findings related to the suggestions suggested by the respondents to overcome the problems in operation of custom hiring centres are presented in the table 3. The data shows that majority (85.71%) of respondents were expressed their views that the government should be increased the subsidy component of custom hiring centres as a major suggestion and ranked first, followed by implements should be provided by the government in the CHC on the basis of farmers demand (75.32%), bank process for subsidy should be easy and simple (59.74%), timely disbursement of government subsidies must be ensured to reduce the financial pressure on custom hiring centres (53.25%), mobile repair units should be started by the government so that machines and implements can be repaired on spot (48.05%), training should be organized to man power for efficient handling of farm machinery (31.17%) and subsidy should be provided by the Government for construction of shed to keep the machinery of CHC (25.97%) were other important suggestions as reported by the respondents.
| Sl. No. | Suggestions | Frequency | Percentage | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Training should be provided to man power for efficient handling of farm machinery. | 24 | 31.17 | VI |
| 2. | The government should be increased the subsidy component of custom hiring centres. | 66 | 85.71 | I |
| 3. | Mobile repair units should be started by the government so that machines and implements can be repaired on spot. | 37 | 48.05 | V |
| 4. | Subsidy should be provided by the Government for construction of shed to keep the machinery of CHC. | 20 | 25.97 | VIII |
| 5. | Bank process for subsidy should be easy and simple. | 46 | 59.74 | III |
| 6. | Implements should be provided by the government in the CHC on the basis of farmers demand. | 58 | 75.32 | II |
| 7. | Timely disbursement of government subsidies must be ensured to reduce the financial pressure on custom hiring centres. | 41 | 53.25 | IV |
Table text extracted from the original PDF; superscript letters are shown inline. The original table image is below.
View original table image
Results and Discussion
Results and Discussion
Problems faced by the service providers in the operation of custom hiring centres
Problems faced by the service providers in the operation of custom hiring centres
Problems faced by the beneficiary farmers in the utilization of custom hiring centres
Problems faced by the beneficiary farmers in the utilization of custom hiring centres
Suggestions suggested by the service providers for effective operation of custom hiring centres
Suggestions suggested by the service providers for effective operation of custom hiring centres
Suggestions suggested by the beneficiary farmers for effective utilization of custom hiring centres
The findings related to the suggestions suggested by the respondents to overcome the problems in utilization of custom hiring centres are presented in the table 4. The data shows that majority (94.48%) of respondents were expressed their views that number of implements (machinery) should be increased for solving the farmer's problems in crop session as a major suggestion and ranked first, followed by hiring charges should be reduced (61.69%), custom hiring centre should be established at panchayat level (57.47%), particular crop wise implements should be available in CHCs (27.60%), providing of rent charges should be less for marginal and small farmers (21.75%), creating awareness for hiring of machinery in CHCs among the farmers (20.78%) and equipment should be available at custom hiring centres for horticultural crops also (14.61%) were other important suggestions as reported by the respondents.
| Sl. No. | Suggestions | Frequency | Percentage | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Custom hiring centre should be established at panchayat level. | 177 | 57.47 | III |
| 2. | Number of implements (machinery) should be increased for solving the farmer’s problems in crop session. | 291 | 94.48 | I |
| 3. | Creating awareness for hiring of machinery in CHCs among the farmers. | 64 | 20.78 | VI |
| 4. | Hiring charges should be reduced. | 190 | 61.69 | II |
| 5. | Particular crop wise implements should be available in CHCs. | 85 | 27.60 | IV |
| 6. | Equipment should be available at custom hiring centres for horticultural crops also. | 45 | 14.61 | VII |
| 7. | Provision of rent charges should be less for marginal and small farmers. | 67 | 21.75 | V |
Table text extracted from the original PDF; superscript letters are shown inline. The original table image is below.
View original table image
Conclusion
It may be concluded that majority (88.31%) of service providers were expressed their views that payment problem (delay and bargaining to reduce hiring charges by the farmers), followed by high maintenance cost machinery and implements (74.03%), some implements are not demanded by the farmers (67.53%) as a major problems and most (85.71%) of them expressed that the government should be increased the subsidy component of custom hiring centres, followed by implements should be provided by the government in the CHC on the basis of farmers demand (75.32%), bank process for subsidy should be easy and simple (59.74%) as a major suggestion. In case of beneficiary farmers, majority (95.13%) of respondents expressed non-availability of farm machinery during the crop season, followed by Compactness of soil physical condition due to use of heavy machinery viz. combine harvester, tractor, etc. (64.61%), high rental cost (61.04%) as a major problem and most (94.48%) of respondents were expressed their views that number of implements (machinery) should be increased for solving the farmer's problems in crop session, followed by hiring charges should be reduced (61.69%), custom hiring centre should be established at panchayat level (57.47%) as a major suggestion.
Figures and tables from the paper
| Sl. No. | Problems | Frequency | Percentage | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Non availability of skilled farm machinery operator | 16 | 20.78 | X |
| 2. | Non availability of service centres nearby village for repairing the machinery in the vicinity of CHCs. | 32 | 41.56 | VII |
| 3. | Lack of shed for keeping the machinery and implements of CHCs. | 20 | 25.97 | VIII |
| 4. | Payment problem (delay and bargaining to reduce hiring charges by the farmers). | 68 | 88.31 | I |
| 5. | High cost of fuel. | 49 | 63.64 | IV |
| 6. | High maintenance cost of machinery and implements. | 57 | 74.03 | II |
| 7. | Cumbersome bank loan with high interest rates. | 44 | 57.14 | VI |
| 8. | Some implements are not demanded by the farmers. | 52 | 67.53 | III |
| 9. | Delayed in receiving subsidy and more time taking process. | 45 | 58.44 | V |
| 10. | Problem faced by the service providers to move heavy machinery from one place to another, Particularly in remote areas. | 19 | 24.68 | IX |
Table text extracted from the original PDF; superscript letters are shown inline. The original table image is below.
View original table image
| Sl. No. | Problems | Frequency | Percentage | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Non availability of farm machinery during the crop season. | 293 | 61.04 | I |
| 2. | Lack of awareness about type of machinery and implements available at CHCs. | 57 | 18.51 | VI |
| 3. | Compactness of soil physical condition due to use of heavy machinery viz. combine harvester, tractor, etc. | 199 | 64.61 | II |
| 4. | High rental cost. | 188 | 95.13 | III |
| 5. | Particular crop wise implements are not available in CHCs. | 87 | 28.25 | IV |
| 6. | Implements are not available in CHC for horticultural crops. | 43 | 13.96 | VII |
| 7. | Losses of straw when combine harvester is used. | 78 | 25.32 | V |
Table text extracted from the original PDF; superscript letters are shown inline. The original table image is below.
View original table image
References
3 in the original paper- Rawat S, Jaiswal M, Bhalave K, Vani DK, Rahangdale CP. Assessment study on custom hiring centres (CHCs) and its services for farmers in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh. Asian J Agric Ext Econ Sociol. 2020;38(12):178-184.
- Singh RS. Custom hiring and scope of entrepreneurship development in farm machinery. AMA, Agric Mech Asia Afr Lat Am. 2012;44(2):26-32.
- Singh S, Kingra HS, Sangeet. Custom hiring services of farm machinery in Punjab: impact and policies. Indian Res J Ext Educ. 2013;13(2):45-50.