The article presents the results of a small initiative of the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) in setting up 'Custom Hiring Centres of Farm Implements' across two villages in the Wardha distict of Maharashtra. Considering that a very high percentage of small and marginal farmers in India do not own farm implements and given the close correspondence that prevails between access to farm implements and quality of agricultural operations, a discussion on the results of this enterprise would offer important lessons for such initiatives across the country