A Week with Farmers

Contents:

(The Inside Story)

Details of areas visited Profile of the farmer and villages visited. Economics of farming Tractor Servicing and Lubricant consumption. Farmers life style and touch points. Key Points.

Area Visited: Punjab

Day 22nd Nov 23rd Nov 24th Nov 25th Nov 26th Nov 27th Nov District Sirhind Sangrur Faridkot Ferozepur Ludhiana Patiala Village Hussainpura Sekha Bargadi Nurpursetha Mohi Jaffarpur Distance 60Kms from Chandigarh 185Kms from Chandigarh 35 Kms from Bhatinda 25 Kms from Ferozepur 35 Kms from Ludhiana 20 Kms from Patiala

Farmer and Village Profile

Day 22nd Nov 23rd Nov 24th Nov 25th Nov 26th Nov 27th Nov

Village Hussainpur a Sekha Bargadi Nurpurseth a Mohi Jaffarpur

Farmer land holding 50 Acre 60 Acre 25 Acre 160 Acre 15 Acre 60 Acre

No. of Tractors 2 2 1 2 2 2

No. of Household in the village 300 800 500 350 450 450

Total No. of Tractors 180 1000 500 300 400 400

All 6 farmers are our DEMO Tractor Farmers. All DEMO Tractors have been selected by FMS after thorough scrutiny, these farmers command respect in the society and are like an advisor to other farmers. They live in joint family and family size is of around 15-20 members. Average age of all farmers is between 30-40 years, Education level is up to Higher Secondary. Almost every house has a two wheeler for commuting. Most of them want to give their children higher education and dont want children to continue farming occupation. Spent entire day with each farmer in their farms and house. Also met about 35 farmers in the farmer meet organized by FMS HS Gill. Economics of Farming Steps Involved in Farming Usage of Tractor in each step per acre.

Steps in Farm

Initial Waste Cl

Actual Cost Break up

Seeds Tractor Usage-Diesel Cost Labour Charges DAP Used Urea Weedicide Pesticide Harvesting Electricity Transportation Other Machinery Rent Tractor Maintenance Total Cost 560 800 250 467 700 500 150 400 250 100 300 100 457 7 40Kg @Rs.14/kg 6hrs usage, diesel used approx 5-6ltr per hrs For small jobs 1bag/ acre 150kg/acre @ Rs.240 per 50kg To destroy unwanted crops Per Acre Cost Combine Rent for 1 acre harvesting For Tube wells, water supply Crop transportation from Farm to Mandi Cultivating tools , Seed Ploughing tools Includes Lubricant and Filter- assuming 20Acre land

* Above Cost does not include repayment of Tractor Loan (Interest and Principle) and depreciation cost of Tractor.

Two crops produced in this part mainly Wheat and Rice. Farmers with more than 25 acres of land holding do multifarming; they also grow potatoes, cotton, sugarcane and other vegetables. Yield per acre is around 18-20 quintal of Wheat and 20-25 quintal of Rice. Total Income per acre is Rs. 14000/- (Rs.700/- per quintal) Net Profit per acre is Rs. 9500/- per season. Farmer with a 10acre land holding earns Rs.1.9lacs per annum Cost of 1 crop yield increases if farmer does not have a tractor. Labour and Transportation cost increases by Rs. 2000/- per acre if a farmer do not have a tractor.

Cost Breakup in Percentage:

Trac tor Maintainenc e, 2 Other Machinery Rent, 7 Trans portation, 2 Elec tric ity , 5 Seeds , 12

Harv es ting, 9

Trac tor Us age-Dies el Cos t, 17

Pes tic ide, 3

W eedicide, 11

Labour Charges , 5

DA P Us ed, 10 Urea, 15

Above Cost breakup is for a 20 Acre land holding farmer. Tractor maintenance cost is variable, if land holding decreases tractor maintenance per acre will increase. Tractor Usage only for farm usage per acre is 6hrs per season. Tractor owners with 5- 20 Acre land holding also use tractor for o Renting tractor in other farms, they themselves drive the tractor. o Transportation of Building materials. o Transportation of crops. o To get water from tube-well when electricity is not available. Tractor owner with 5-20 acre land also hire land for cropping purpose.

Tractor owner with more than 20 acre land use only in their farms. Tractor owner with low land holding also have other source of income from o Dairy Farming. o Labour work in nearby industry

Tractor Servicing and Lubricant Usage Tractor is treated as their God by farmers. As a habit, they worship Tractor in the morning before use. Checking Engine oil level and water level is regular routine in the morning. Top-up of engine oil is done in more than 5 year old tractor; average top-up usage is 5ltrs. Per annum. (5ltr can is normally purchased) In case of new tractors 2ltrs is used as top-up. Change of engine oil depends upon number of Diesel Barrel used. After every 5-6 barrels of diesel barrel, engine oil is changed. One diesel barrel gives 50hrs of output. Tractor used for only farming purpose change engine oil only 2 times a year. Tractor used for farming as well as other purposes change engine oil 3 times a year. Engine oil and filter is purchased from a fix retailer in the near by town. While purchasing in cash farmers purchase a pre-decided brand. While purchasing in credit, retailer has a say in choice of engine oil to be given. Oil change is done by a local village mechanic (DIFM) and many farmers also exhibit DIY behavior. Gear Oil change is very rarely done, GO change is done only if there is any big problem in the gear box or during overhauling. To quantify in no. of years, gear oil change is done once in 5 years. Tractors like Sonalika, Swaraj and HMT had high preference in this belt. Non CRB users currently were aware of brands like Lal Ghoda, Servo, Elf, Valvoline and Veedol.

Non CRB users had doubts of Castrol being more duplicated; they also were unaware of the brand benefits of using CRB. Non-CRB users were dependent on retailers and were price conscious. Key months for engine oil change are March end -April Mid, May end- June Mid and October. Wants lubricant to give more power to the engine, reduce maintenance cost and increase in drain period.

Farmers life style and touch points Farmer has a habit of getting up daily at about 5am. During season he starts working since morning 5am itself. Lunch during peak season is taken at the farm itself. Farmers typical working day ends at 8pm during season time. He spends his time at farms and mandi during season months. During off-season he spends time visiting relatives and in social activities. All household related purchasing is being done by the farmer himself from the nearby town once in a month. His frequent visits are to the mandis, grocery shop, agri product outlets, hardware shop, banks, and cloth stores. High involvement in social and religious activities. Sources of entertainment are a) Spending time with friends b) Local news paper reading and c) watching television, key channels are local channels, Aaj Tak, NDTV and DD1. All farmers were highly sensitive towards children education. They want their children should go for higher education and did not want them to continue his farming occupation. Farmers also expressed their concerns towards increasing debts and suicides. Main reason for increasing debts were a) Loan taken for farming but utilized in some other work like daughters marriage, making of pucca house or paying off some

earlier loan. b) Taking loan for buying a new tractor for status purpose. Awareness towards self insurance and crop insurance is also increasing in farmer community.

Key Points In Punjab, oil change is done only 2 times a year; few farmers with multi farming activities and tractor usage for other purposes go for 3 oil changes. Almost every tractor owner has a 4Stwo wheeler for commuting. Opinion leader plays a key role in influencing other farmers; demo farmer model is also explored by some pesticide companies. Similar to a demo farmer, a demo retailer also plays an important role in promoting the brand in near by villages. Key months for oil change are March end -April Mid, May endJune Mid and October. Tractor owner feels lubricant should give more power to the tractor, reduce maintenance cost and increase drain period. Farmers expressed their concerns and willingness to help farmers who are committing suicide. Non Castrol users were unaware of the brand benefits, influenced by retailers and were price conscious. Sales promotion attracts farmers; gifts which are unique and have good utility are liked by them. Some gifts recommended are: Steel thermos, Steel trays, Steel glass set, Tool kit, Binoculars, branded alarm clock. Entertainment sources are, a) daily meeting with friends, b) Local newspaper reading and c) TV, mainly regional and new channel from 8pm-10pm.

Some Snaps: