Farmers' perception and expenditure share on bayer crop protection products in soybean cultivation in Buldhana district

Abstract:

This study explores how local farmers perceive and spend on Bayer CropScience products across Khamgaon, Nandura, and Malkapur talukas in Buldhana district, drawing insights from 90 surveyed growers. The results show that buying decisions come down to real-world performance and trust: product effectiveness came out on top (mean score 4.54), followed closely by easy market availability (4.34), brand reputation (4.29), and overall satisfaction (4.24). On the flip side, details like usage instructions, pack options, and packaging scored lowest, reflecting that growers lean far more on their local agro-dealers and personal field experience than on the fine print on the bottles. On the financial side, Bayer accounted for nearly a third (30.39%, or ₹3,70,880.75 out of ₹12,20,572.97) of the total crop-protection budget in the area, peaking in Nandura taluka at 33.42%. Looking across input categories, Bayer held its strongest ground in fungicides at 39.15%, followed by insecticides at 28.63% and herbicides at 19.40%, showing solid farmer confidence for tackling pests and diseases while leaving plenty of room to expand in weed control.