Problems and suggestions in the operation and utilization of custom hiring centres: As perceived by the service providers and beneficiary farmers

The present study was conducted on custom hiring centres in five selected districts of Chhattisgarh plains. In case of service providers of CHCs, the majority of service providers expressed payment problem (delay and bargaining to reduce hiring charges by the farmers), high maintenance cost of machinery and implements, some implements are not demanded by the farmers and high cost of fuel as a major problems and most of them expressed the government should be increased the subsidy component of custom hiring centres, implements should be provided by the government in the CHC on the basis of farmers demand, bank process for subsidy should be easy and simple and timely disbursement of government subsidies must be ensured to reduce the financial pressure on custom hiring centres as a major suggestions. In case of beneficiary farmers, the majority of respondents expressed that non-availability of farm machinery during the crop season, Compactness of soil physical condition due to use of heavy machinery viz. combine harvester, tractor, etc., high rental cost and particular crop wise implements are not available in CHCs were the major problems and most of them expressed that number of implements (machinery) should be increased for solving the farmer’s problems particularly in crop session, hiring charges should be reduced, custom hiring centre should be established at panchayat level and particular crop wise implements should be available in CHCs were the major suggestions suggested by the farmers.