Custom Hiring Centre and Region-Specific Demand of Agriculture Machinery in Indore District, India

Abstract

Geographically, India accounts for 2.4 percent of the world’s total area and 4 percent of its water resources. While it is home for about 17 percent of world’s population and 15 percent of the livestock, the country has seen a steady growth in the population. Farm mechanisation in India stands at about 40-45 percent. This is still low when compared to countries such as the US (95 percent), Brazil (75 percent) and China (57percent). CRIDA has taken the lead and developed more than 151 Custom Hiring Centres of farm equipment throughout all ecological areas in India. The centre has a collection of farm machinery, implements, tools, and equipment that are rented out to small and marginal farmers, women and agricultural labourers. Farm mechanization has the potential to significantly revolutionize agriculture in India by providing a means of increasing farm output, bolstering livelihoods, and guaranteeing food security. The Sahkari Sheetgrah Sanstha, Rau is a society under which a Custom Hiring Centre was established by National Cooperative Development Corporation. A random sample of 10 farmers was selected to collect the data regarding the major crops cultivated in the area and the main agriculture implements required for farm operations. The conclusion drawn was that the farmers are mainly raising soybean, wheat, chickpea, potato and onion. The main agriculture implements in demand are Tractor, Cultivator, Seed drill, Combine harvester, Power thresher, Disc harrow, Rotavator and Mould board plough. Thus, a custom hiring center with the above implements may be established in the study area to cater to the demands of the farmers.