The Supply-Side Story of Zero Tillage Service Provision in the Eastern Gangetic Plains: Perspectives from Machinery Owners

Abstract

A vibrant fee-for-hire service provision economy is required in the Eastern Gangetic Plains (EGP) to ensure that resource-poor smallholder farmers can access and benefit from agri-mechanisation. While the literature on sustainable agri-mechanisation (with an emphasis on Conservation Agriculture-based Sustainable Intensification) has focused on the potential impact on farmer livelihoods, there has been a significant gap in understanding the supply constraints that limit the availability of machinery for smallholders. Using a novel qualitative thematic coding approach based on machinery owner experiences, this study aims to fill this gap, highlighting issues around the inclusiveness of current approaches to encourage machinery services provision and the economic viability of doing so. The findings of this study are not only informative but also have practical implications for future work. To address key constraints, we identify five focus areas for future research, alongside the need to explore with communities their preferred methods to access machinery. In doing so, this work enables a more holistic understanding of the next steps to encourage widespread and equitable agri-mechanization across the EGP.