Department of Agricultural Economics, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri-413 722 (M.S.)
The results revealed that the cultivation cost for Kharif cotton produced by dripand surface irrigation was `104883.74 and 89878.77 per hectare, respectively. The total human labour saving was of 23.21 man-days per hectare in case of drip irrigation as compared to surface irrigation. The saving in water was 97.38 HP hours and saving in electricity was 73.04 kWh per hectare in the case of drip irrigation than that of surface irrigation. The Kharif cotton productivity was higher by 48.95 per cent in the case of drip irrigation than that of surface irrigation. In respect of drip irrigation, the net returns from Kharif cotton crop were higher by `22337.35 than the surface irrigation. In the case of drip irrigation, the per quintal cultivation cost of Kharif cotton was `3980.46 as compared to `5080.39 surface irrigation. The investment on drip irrigation set was found economically viable since BCR was observed more than surface irrigation and the per cent increase in net returns over the surface irrigation was 46.89 per cent. Adoption of drip irrigation method needs to be encouraged by the farmers with increased government subsidy on drip set investment for efficient use of water and nutrient, which would ultimately help to enhance the farmers ’income.
Drip irrigation, HP, Kharif cotton, kWh, surface irrigation
