Study on factors influencing the adoption of drip irrigation by farmers in humid tropical Kerala, India

Abstract

<span>Adoption of drip irrigation in Kerala State of India is very low and potential exists to<br /><span>increase its adoption in the State. A field survey was conducted in two districts to determine the<br /><span>major factors influencing farmers' adoption of drip irrigation and to draw conclusions that will<br /><span>help in developing policy and institutional interventions to encourage the adoption. The results<br /><span>indicated that adoption index of farmers is higher in Kozhikode, when compared with the<br /><span>Thrissur district. However, with respect to different crops, adoption index is not statistically<br /><span>significant. Socioeconomic characteristics such as age, education, experience, land holding size,<br /><span>etc. have a positive influence on drip irrigation adoption index by farmers. Farmers have<br /><span>realized yield improvement in the range of about 13% to 47% through drip irrigation, when<br /><span>compared to surface method of irrigation for arecanut, coconut and nutmeg. High productivity<br /><span>and income from cultivation of crops like coconut, arecanut and nutmeg have acted as an<br /><span>incentive to adopt the costly system of drip irrigation in the case of both Kozhikode and<br /><span>Thrissur farmers. The number of drip irrigation components and type of emitters indicated a<br /><span>significant and linear response for drip irrigation adoption. The reported constraints experienced<br /><span>by farmers include rainfall, clogging of drippers, high initial cost, inadequate subsidy, difficulty<br /><span>in getting subsidy, etc. This information will help to prioritize the factors that affect adoption<br /><span>decisions and provide insights for improving the crop and water productivity.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></span>