Assessing the Present Status and Future Strategies of Custom Hiring of Agricultural Machinery in Paddy Farm in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India

The study aims to examine the present status and future strategies of custom hiring of agricultural machinery in paddy farms in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh, India. Eighty farmers were selected randomly from Pendra and Marwahi block of Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh state. The study concluded that on an average land holding size was 3.15 hectares and average family size was observed 4.6 at the sampled farms. About 75 percent of the farmers used machines for cultivation of paddy crop. Out of which this 76.66 percent farmers hired machinery. About 64.28 percent of tractor owner were large farmers and only 37.71 percent tractor owners belonged to small and medium size categories. The total cost of cultivation of paddy was found to be Rs. 35301.00, Rs.33804.28, Rs.34756.71 and Rs.31559.88 per hectare at traditional method, machinery method (broadcasting), machinery method (transplanting) and line sowing method respectively. Productivity of paddy in transplanting method using machine was higher (45 quintal per hectare) followed by line sowing (43 quintals per hectare). Input-output ratio in line sowing method was 1:2.07, which was higher as compared to other methods of cultivation. Lack of availability of machinery in time was major constraints accounting 41.25 percent of the selected farmers. The state government should develop the Agro-Service centres on cooperative management basis at panchayat level for such services and take steps like fixing the custom hiring rates, reducing fuel costs and creating more awareness about custom hiring of farm machinery. This would particularly be beneficial to the small farmers to cut down their cost of production, enhance productivity and increase their net farm incomes.