After-sale services provided by agricultural input dealers to farmers in southern Rajasthan

From the seven districts in southern Rajasthan, two districts of this area were selected on the basis of maximum number of input dealers. Districts Bhilwara and Udaipur have maximum number of input dealers 330 and 309 respectively, hence selected for this study. Within these districts, specific tehsils were chosen based on similar criteria: Bhindar, Girwa, Mavli and Salumbar tehsils selected from Udaipur and Jahazpur, Kotri, Mandal and Shahpura tehsils selected from Bhilwara. Hence, a total eight tehsils were selected from two identified districts. To select input dealers, a list of input dealers was compiled with the assistance of deputy director of agriculture, agriculture officers and agriculture supervisors. From these lists, 30 input dealers were randomly selected from each tehsil. Thus, a total sample size of 240 input dealers for the study.
This study examines the crucial role of agricultural input dealers in providing after-sales services to farmers in Udaipur and Bhilwara districts. It analyses various service categories, including product support, guidance on usage, troubleshooting, and warranty support, all vital for fostering trust and long-term relationships. The research ranks different services based on Mean Percent Scores (MPS), highlighting the prominence of pesticide-related services and crop advisory. The findings underscore the importance of tailored support for specific agricultural needs, identifying areas of strength and potential improvement in the after-sales service landscape provided by input dealers to farmers.