Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal-462 038.
Drip irrigation systems are increasingly being used by the Indian farmers to irrigate about 35 crops. The present paper discusses the economic feasibility and prospects of adopting drip irrigation for fruits, vegetables, sugarcane and cotton, Out of 6.5 Mha cultivated area under the above crops, 5.5 Mha is suitable for drip irrigation. The total projected area under drip irrigation is about 0.98 mha by 2005 AD. An economic analysis of selected crops under drip shows that the net profits rangefrom Rs. 4700 to Rs. 19780/ha. Fruit crops are more favored with a maximum B:C ratio of 3.43 followed by sugarcane 2.41. The projected capital requirement up to 2005 AD is about Rs.22687 million to bring an additional 0.76 Mha area under drip irrigation, from the 1998 level. The corresponding net profits are estimated at Rs.12182 millions per year. This implies that there is a need to accelerate the rate of increase inarea under drip irrigation.
Economic feasibility, drip irrigation, benefit cost ratio
