Banana Cultivation under Drip and Conventional Irrigation Methods in Karnataka : An Economic Analysis

Abstract

The present study was carried out to analyze the comparative economics of banana cultivation under drip and conventional irrigation methods. The data needed for the study were collected from the 60 banana producing farmers using random sampling technique in the North eastern region of Karnataka state. The finding of the study revealed that total cost of establishment of the Drip Irrigation System (DIS) for irrigating the banana crop was ₹1,31,182/ha and G-9 was the most popular variety being cultivated among the samples banana farmers. The result also showed that the average yield per hectare was found significantly higher (18.93 %) on drip irrigated farm by over conventionally irrigated banana, which indicated that productivity of banana was higher under drip system than conventional irrigation method. Further, net return per hectare realised was ₹328537 in Drip irrigated banana and ₹227888 conventional banana farms and it was higher by 44 % in Drip irrigated banana farms as against conventional banana farms. The returns realised per rupee of expenditure (BC ratio) in drip and conventional banana farm was 3.14 and 2.37 respectively. Since banana is a water intensive crop, drip irrigation is an appropriate water saving technology for banana for efficient use of water.