Farmers' perception, usefulness and impact of custom hiring centre: A case study of Buxar district in Bihar

Custom hiring centre: Farmer insights from Buxar

Abstract

Mechanization and sustainable resource management are critical for enhancing agricultural productivity, especially among small and marginal farmers. To address this, a Custom Hiring Centre (CHC) was established at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Buxar, Bihar, to provide easy access to agricultural machinery for farmers. The CHC offers various resource-conservation machines, such as the happy seeder, multi-crop planter, raised bed planter, tractor-mounted sprayer, cultivator, and laser land leveler, on a rental basis. A survey was conducted to assess farmers' perceptions and the usefulness of the CHC, collecting data from 49 beneficiary farmers using an interview schedule. Descriptive statistical tools were used for data analysis. In the year 2022-23, the CHC generated a revenue of Rs. 1,77,646 by covering an area of 119.5 hectares. The rental rates for machinery were kept low to make them affordable for small and marginal farmers, who are often economically constrained and unable to purchase modern agricultural equipment. The CHC has become a vital resource for non-Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) farmers in the region, enabling them to practice farming with reduced labor. The use of these machines has increased profitability by lowering labor costs and, more importantly, acted as a catalyst for the rapid demonstration and adoption of climate-resilient agricultural practices.