Opportunities and Threats of Custom Hiring Centre in Farm Mechanization

Establishment of Custom Hiring Centre (CHC) in farm mechanization is a boon for farmers especially for the small and marginal farmers to combat the labour scarcity. Thus, an extension study was taken up with an objective to know the opportunities and threats in CHC in farm mechanization. About 30 Custom hiring centres located in five sub divisions of the district were selected purposefully for the study. The respondents selected for the study were 30 each from CHC owned farmers, hired farmers and non-hired farmers, thus total sample size was 90. An exploratory research design used for the study. Results revealed that cent per cent of the respondent farmers perceived labour scarcity and high wage rates as the opportunity to establish custom hiring centers. About ninty five per cent farmers perceived the disappearance of cattle for field operations as an opportunity for CHCs. Govt. schemes and subsidy on farm machinery for farmers perceived as opportunity by the 93.33 per cent of the respondent farmers . Cent per cent of the respondent farmers perceived small land holdings as a threat for establish CHCs, high initial investment perceived as threat by the 97.78 per cent farmers, 94.44 per cent farmers perceived the farmers migration to other sectors as a threat and lack of trained personnel for repairs as threat by 91.11 per cent. Farmers suggested that at least one CHC should be established by the Government at mandal level so the price of custom hiring of agricultural machinery is fixed and low as compared to that offered by private CHCs. Policy makers may consider the weaknesses to formulate solutions for these problems and consider the strengths for further improvement in promotion and establishment of CHCs.