Factors affecting and problems faced by farmers in the purchase of farm implements in Junagadh district of Gujarat

Introduction

India's agriculture sector is currently at a crucial stage of transformation. It supports more than 1.4 billion people and provides livelihoods for nearly half of the population, yet the level of mechanization remains at around 45-47 per cent (Dhila et al., 2026) [4] . This is considerably lower than in developed agricultural economies such as the USA, Europe and China, where mechanization levels are substantially higher. With decreasing landholding size, rising labour shortages and increasing input costs, traditional farming methods are becoming less sustainable. Mechanization has therefore emerged as an essential component of modern agriculture, not only for reducing manual labour but also for improving operational efficiency, enhancing productivity and promoting precision farming practices. It is estimated that the proper use of farm machinery can increase agricultural productivity by about 30 per cent and reduce cultivation costs by nearly 20 per cent. However, in India, the use of machinery is still largely concentrated around tractors, and there is considerable scope for expanding mechanization to operations such as sowing, harvesting and post-harvest management (ISAE, 2024). Mechanization also plays a significant role in promoting sustainable agriculture. In the face of challenges such as climate change, water scarcity and soil degradation, the adoption of modern and resource-efficient technologies has become increasingly important. Government initiatives such as the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) and the promotion of Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) have improved farmers' access to agricultural machinery. Nevertheless, constraints such as limited awareness, inadequate technical knowledge, poor access to credit and insufficient after-sales services continue to restrict the wider adoption of farm implements. To achieve the vision of a developed India by 2047, greater emphasis must be placed on smallholder farmers, regional inclusiveness, technological innovation and effective public-private partnerships. Affordable machinery, improved training programmes, better financing options and reliable repair and maintenance services are essential for accelerating the pace of mechanization (ISAE, 2024). The purchase of farm implements is influenced by several economic, technical and promotional factors. Farmers often consider aspects such as affordability, durability, field performance, availability of spare parts, dealer support and access to finance while making purchase decisions. Similarly, promotional tools such as field demonstrations, dealer recommendations and farmer-to-farmer communication play an important role in shaping their preferences. Understanding these factors and the constraints faced by farmers is essential for manufacturers, policymakers and extension agencies to formulate effective strategies for promoting agricultural mechanization. Although several studies have examined the adoption of agricultural machinery in India, limited empirical evidence is available regarding the factors influencing farmers' purchase decisions and the problems faced during the purchase of farm implements in the Junagadh district of Gujarat. Therefore, the present study was undertaken with the specific objectives of examining the socio-economic profile of farmers, identifying the key factors influencing the purchase of farm implements, determining the most effective promotional tools affecting purchase decisions, and analyzing the constraints faced by farmers during the purchase of farm implements.

Methodology 2.1 Study Area

Junagadh district of Gujarat was purposively selected for the study due to the widespread use of tractors and tractordrawn implements in agricultural operations. The district has a diverse cropping pattern comprising groundnut, cotton, wheat and pearl millet, and agriculture remains one of the major livelihood activities. The study was conducted in four talukas, namely Vanthali, Manavadar, Keshod and Bheshan, where the adoption of farm machinery is relatively prominent compared to other areas of the district.

Sampling Procedure

A multistage purposive sampling technique was adopted for the study. Junagadh district was selected purposively due to its considerable use of farm machinery. Four talukas, namely Vanthali, Manavadar, Keshod and Bheshan, were selected for investigation. From each taluka, five villages were selected, resulting in a total of 20 villages. Further, 10 tractor-owning farmers possessing at least one farm implement were selected purposively from each village, resulting in a sample size of 200 respondents. Primary data were collected from December 2025 to March 2026 through personal interviews using a pre-tested structured interview schedule. Secondary information related to agriculture and mechanization was collected from published reports, journals and official government sources.

Weighted Average Mean

The Weighted Average Mean (WAM) technique was used to determine the relative importance of factors influencing purchase decisions, promotional tools and constraints faced by farmers in the purchase of farm implements.

Respondents were asked to indicate their level of agreement on a five-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (least important) to 5 (most important). The weighted average mean for each factor was calculated using the following formula:

Where, F = Weight given to each response X = Number of responses X t = Total number of responses

Results and Discussion

Socio-economic profile of farmers

The socio-economic profile of the respondents revealed that agricultural decision-making in the study area is entirely male-dominated, as all respondents were male. The majority of farmers (55.50%) belonged to the middle-age group (36-50 years), followed by older farmers (24%) and young farmers (20.50%). This indicates that farming activities and investment decisions related to farm machinery are primarily undertaken by experienced farmers who possess adequate farming knowledge and operational experience. Similar findings were reported by Dhila et al. (2026) [4] . With regards to education, most respondents had attained primary education (34%), followed by secondary education (19.50%) and higher secondary education (16.50%). Only a small proportion of respondents were graduates (4.50%), while 16 per cent were illiterate. The education profile suggests that although literacy levels are reasonably satisfactory, higher educational attainment among farmers remains limited. The annual income distribution showed that 41.50 per cent of respondents belonged to the medium-income category (₹ 2-4 lakh annually), followed by low-income (33%) and high-income (25.50%). The predominance of mediumincome farmers indicates moderate purchasing capacity, which may influence investment decisions regarding agricultural machinery. The majority of respondents were small farmers (38%), followed by marginal farmers (20%), indicating the dominance of small and fragmented landholdings in the study area. Such landholding patterns often influence the type and scale of machinery adopted by farmers. www.extensionjournal.com Tractor ownership was observed among all respondents, reflecting a relatively high level of mechanization in the study area. Among different tractor brands, TAFE (Massey Ferguson) was the most preferred brand (23.50%), followed by Mahindra & Mahindra (14%) and Swaraj (13.50%). This preference may be attributed to brand reliability, local dealer networks and availability of spare parts. Regarding farm implement ownership, cultivators were the most widely owned implements (94%), followed by MB/disc ploughs (53.50%) and rotavators (44.50%). In contrast, ownership of www.extensionjournal.com specialized implements such as seed drills, threshers, mulchers, sprayers and harrows was comparatively low. This indicates that mechanization in the study area is largely concentrated in land preparation activities, while the adoption of machinery for sowing, crop management and post-harvest operations remains limited.

Factors influencing the purchase decision of farm implements

The factors influencing farmers' purchase decisions regarding farm implements were analyzed using the Weighted Average Mean (WAM) technique, and the results are presented in Table 2. The findings revealed that price/affordability was the most influential factor, securing the highest WAM score of 4.83. This indicates that farmers give primary importance to the economic feasibility of farm machinery before making a purchase decision. The predominance of small and marginal farmers in the study area may be one of the major reasons for the high importance attached to affordability. Durability and quality ranked second with a WAM score of 4.71, followed by performance in the field (4.64). These findings suggest that farmers prefer farm implements that provide reliable performance over a longer period and generate higher operational efficiency. Since farm machinery involves substantial investment, farmers tend to prioritize equipment that offers long-term value and dependable field performance. [4] , who observed that affordability, durability and field performance were among the most critical determinants influencing farmers' purchase decisions. The results indicate that economic and performance-related factors play a dominant role in shaping farmers' purchasing behaviour. Therefore, manufacturers and policymakers should focus on developing affordable, durable and efficient farm implements supported by strong service networks and easy availability of spare parts.

Influence of various promotional tools on farmers' purchase decisions

The influence of various promotional tools on farmers' purchase decisions was analyzed using the Weighted Average Mean (WAM) technique, and the results are presented in Table 3. The findings revealed that field demonstrations/field days emerged as the most effective promotional tool with the highest WAM score of 4.42. This indicates that farmers prefer practical exposure to farm machinery before making purchase decisions. Field demonstrations enable farmers to directly observe the performance, efficiency and suitability of implements under actual farming conditions, thereby reducing uncertainty associated with machinery investments. Word of mouth communication from friends and fellow farmers ranked second with a WAM score of 4.31, followed by dealer recommendations (4.14). The high ranking of these factors highlights the importance of trust-based communication in influencing farmers' purchasing behaviour. Farmers often rely on the experiences and recommendations of fellow farmers and local dealers because they are perceived as reliable and relevant sources of information. [4] , who emphasized the effectiveness of field demonstrations, interpersonal communication and dealer interactions in shaping farmers' purchase decisions. The findings indicate that experiential marketing and trust-based communication www.extensionjournal.com channels play a more significant role than conventional advertising methods in promoting farm implements. Therefore, manufacturers, dealers and extension agencies should prioritize field demonstrations, farmer meetings and dealer-led awareness programmes to improve the adoption of agricultural machinery. The comparatively lower influence of digital media may be attributed to differences in digital literacy and internet usage among rural farmers.

Key barriers faced by farmers in the purchase of farm implements

The barriers faced by farmers in the purchase of farm implements were analyzed using the Weighted Average Mean (WAM) technique, and the results are presented in Table 4. The findings revealed that high initial cost was the most severe constraint, obtaining the highest WAM score of 4.29. This indicates that the substantial capital investment required for purchasing farm implements remains a major obstacle, particularly for small and marginal farmers who constitute the majority of the respondents. Lack of finance or credit facilities ranked second with a WAM score of 4.14, followed by high repair and maintenance costs (4.05). These findings suggest that financial limitations continue to be a significant challenge not only at the time of purchase but also during the operational life of farm machinery. Limited access to institutional credit often discourages farmers from investing in modern farm implements, while high maintenance expenses further increase the overall cost of ownership. [4] , who observed that financial constraints were among the most important factors limiting the adoption of farm machinery.

The results indicate that economic barriers, particularly high purchase costs and inadequate access to finance, are the primary challenges faced by farmers in acquiring farm implements. Therefore, strengthening institutional credit support, expanding subsidy programmes and improving after-sales service networks can significantly enhance the adoption of farm machinery in the study area.

Conclusion

The study revealed that farmers in Junagadh district are relatively well-equipped with tractors and basic farm implements, particularly cultivators, MB/disc ploughs and rotavators. However, the adoption of advanced and specialized farm machinery remains limited. The findings indicated that farmers' purchase decisions are primarily influenced by price/affordability, durability and quality, and field performance, highlighting the importance of economic and functional considerations in machinery selection. Among promotional tools, field demonstrations, word of mouth communication and dealer recommendations were found to be the most effective in influencing purchase decisions.

The study further identified high initial cost, lack of finance or credit facilities, and high repair and maintenance expenses as the major constraints faced by farmers in purchasing farm implements. These findings suggest that financial limitations continue to be a significant barrier to the wider adoption of agricultural machinery. To enhance farm mechanization, efforts should focus on improving access to affordable credit, strengthening after-sales services, ensuring timely availability of spare parts and promoting field-based demonstrations. A coordinated approach involving government agencies, financial institutions, manufacturers and extension organizations is essential for providing affordable and farmer-friendly mechanization solutions. Such initiatives can contribute to increased adoption of farm implements, improved farm productivity and sustainable agricultural development in the region.

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