ECONOMIC SURVEY 2019 NEED TO DOUBLE DOWN ON REDUCING POLICY UNCERTAINTY AND TO ADOPT MICRO IRRIGATION SYSTEM (original) (raw)
Related papers
Potential area of micro-irrigation and its outreach across Indian states
Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2022
Indian agriculture is predominantly dependent on groundwater and consumes nearly 89% of its total groundwater draft. With recurrence of drought and faster depletion of groundwater resources in recent past, micro-irrigation technology has emerged to play crucial role in managing irrigation water demand and sustaining food security. The policy makers, recognising gravity of water scarcity across the Indian states, have focussed water policy pivotal to micro-irrigation. So, present study aims to estimate potential area across Indian states that are suitable for adoption of micro-irrigation. For estimation, sources of irrigation and crop suitability for micro-irrigation primarily under drip and sprinkler irrigation are considered across the states for year 2018-19. Based on different combinations of irrigation sources, estimate shows that country endows an area of 72-78 million ha on which micro-irrigation can be adopted. At country level, micro-irrigation penetration to our estimates ranges from 14.71-15.81% in recent years. Further, location coefficient reveals that concentration of micro-irrigation has improved over the years, however noticeable variation exists across the states. The states with dedicated agencies to improve micro-irrigation adoption like Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, show higher penetration. However, the state like Punjab that faces water scarcity has low penetration of micro-irrigation. Therefore, there is need to have state-specific schemes to scale up microirrigation area for better trade-off between environmental sustainability and food security.
Investment in Micro Irrigation Systems: Impact on Production, Productivity and Water Use Efficiency
Ensuring economic use and better management of water resources for maintaining food security and sustained rural livelihoods is important at the present moment considering the present pattern of utilization of water resources in different sectors. The "Micro-Irrigation System" (MIS), has become a popular irrigation method particularly for irrigating horticultural crops. During the last three decades, MIS has become popular around the globe due to their irrigation efficiency. Since 2003, Andhra Pradesh has gone in a significant way in propagating MIS with the objective of improving water and fertilizer use efficiency, enhancing crop productivity and conserve energy in agriculture. An impact analysis based on a sample of 174 micro irrigation farmers showed notable positive results. Investment in MIS resulted in changes in land use pattern, increased area under irrigation, changes in cropping pattern, changes in inputs use pattern, etc. The seasonal water requirement (SWR) fo...
2008
It is generally perceived that adoption of micro irrigation (MI) system leads to increase in yield; real water saving; and expansion in area under irrigation, all resulting in social benefits. But, most of these perceptions are based on research on drip irrigated farms of orchards and cash crops. Again, they looked at saving in applied water rather than actual water consumption by the crop. Thus, the social benefits tend to get over-emphasized. Since the studies were done in agriculturally prosperous regions where labour is in short supply, the social costs associated with removal of labour from farms get ignored. Thus, governments and donors are motivated to subsidize MI systems. But, many research studies in the past on drip irrigation seem to suggest that these systems are viable even when the full costs of the system are compared against the private benefit. Hence, subsidies may not be desirable from an equity perspective as it is mostly large farmers having capital who go for m...
Irrigation Science, 2007
Micro-irrigation technologies are promoted for various reasons in India. Despite the reported significant economic advantages, and the concerted support of the government and NGOs, the current microirrigation area in India remains an insignificant proportion of its potential. This paper analyzes: (1) the economics of alternative micro-irrigation technologies, (2) the determinants of adoption, (3) the poverty outreach of the different micro-irrigation systems, and (4) the sustainability implications of micro-irrigation adoption. In line with the findings of other studies, this study indicates that micro-irrigation technologies result in a significant productivity and economic gains. The most important determinants of micro-irrigation adoption include access to groundwater, cropping pattern, availability of cash, and level of education, the social status and poverty status of the farmer. Contrary to the expectations, the majority of the current adopters of low-cost micro-irrigation systems are the better-off farmers. The study indicates that the impact of micro-irrigation systems on the sustainability of groundwater resources depends upon the magnitude of the overall productivity gain following the shift from traditional irrigation method to micro-irrigation system, the pattern of use of the saved water, and the type and potential number of adopters.
Economic affairs, 2024
Paper estimates the savings in water, electricity, and economic gains of the micro irrigation adoption scheme "Per Drop More Crop" of the Government of India for the cultivation of three crops, namely, sugarcane, banana, and cotton in selected districts of Maharashtra (India). The before-after comparison method is adopted using the data collected from the pre-tested interview schedules from 116 drip irrigation adopters in Maharashtra. Results indicate that after drip irrigation adoption, farmers experienced higher yields, profits and saved water across the three crops. The per hectare yield of banana, sugarcane, and cotton increased by 73%, 36%, and 80%, respectively. After adopting drip irrigation, the power usage for irrigation per hectare was approximately half for banana and sugarcane and 86% for cotton. With drip irrigation, farmers could grow the sample crops with higher intensity. Thus, overall power consumption for irrigation for banana cultivators increased by 20%, while for sugarcane and cotton it was still lower. The benefit-cost ratio indicated that the drip investment for all three crops is economically viable with and without subsidy. Interaction with farmers reveals that marginal and small farmers need financial assistance to deal with the increasing cost of cultivation. Thus, the government must continue to promote the usage of drip technology through extension services as well as provide the subsidy. HIGHlIGHtS m With the adoption of drip irrigation, the per hectare yield and net returns of banana, sugarcane, and cotton increased considerably. m Drip irrigation has benefitted the farmers and is economically viable even without subsidy for commercial crops like sugarcane, cotton, and banana. m Power consumption with drip irrigation adoption reduces. However, it is not a sure-shot strategy to conserve water.
IAEME PUBLICATION, 2020
This article explores the adoption of Micro Irrigation Technology (MIT) to enhance agricultural sustainability in Andhra Pradesh. Drawing insights from successful MIT models in India, it presents a concise set of strategies customized to Andhra Pradesh's agricultural needs. In the pursuit of agricultural sustainability in Andhra Pradesh, the adoption of Micro Irrigation Technology (MIT) stands as a promising pathway. Drawing from valuable insights gleaned from successful MIT models across India, two key references shed light on strategies customized to meet Andhra Pradesh's agricultural needs. "Micro Irrigation in India: Constraints and Facilitating Measures" by Sidhu et al. (2014) offers a comprehensive view of the challenges and opportunities associated with MIT adoption in India, emphasizing the role of government policies and financial incentives. Meanwhile, "Enhancing Water Productivity and Irrigation Efficiency through Drip Irrigation in Andhra Pradesh, India" by Prasad et al. (2017) delves deeper into the application of drip irrigation technology, showcasing its potential to enhance water productivity and efficiency within the specific context of Andhra Pradesh. These references underscore the importance of tailored MIT solutions, financial incentives, farmer education, crop-specific implementations, and collaborative efforts with both government and private sectors. By incorporating robust monitoring, public awareness campaigns, and digital integration, these strategies present a comprehensive roadmap for Andhra Pradesh to harness the potential of MIT, ultimately revolutionizing agriculture, conserving water, boosting productivity, and improving the livelihoods of farmers in the region. This article offers Andhra Pradesh a roadmap to harness MIT's potential, revolutionizing agriculture, conserving water, enhancing productivity, and improving farmer livelihoods. It's a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners seeking sustainable agricultural solutions in the region.
2021
The paper estimates the economic impact of the micro irrigation adoption Scheme "Per Drop More Crop" of the Government of India. The Government provides subsidies under this scheme for the adoption of drip-sprinkler irrigation systems. The paper evaluates the costs, income and yields changes due to drip irrigation adoption among sugarcane, banana and cotton farmers of Maharashtra province in India. Before/after the design is adopted to evaluate the changes and data was collected using the pre-tested interview schedules from overall 116 drip irrigation adopters in Maharashtra in 2019-20. The survey results revealed drip irrigation adoption increased yields, profits and saved water. Under drip irrigation method, per hectare yield of banana, sugarcane, and cotton increased by 73%, 36% and 80% respectively. The average operational costs of sugarcane declined by 9%, while for banana and cotton, it increased by 17% and 19%. Net returns for banana, sugarcane, and cotton increased by 202%,5237%, and 296% respectively. It was observed a reduction in inputs usage viz. labour, fertilisers, weedicide, and electricity. With drip irrigation, farmers were able to grow sample crops with higher intensity. Micro Irrigation has benefitted the farmers and the government must continue to promote the usage of this technology through extension services as well as providing subsidies.
2000
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