Efficiency and viability of drip method of irrigation in groundnut cultivation: an empirical analysis from South India

Abstract

Abstract Drip method of irrigation (DMI) has the potential to save substantial water and electrical energy as well as increase the productivity of crops. Studies conducted on different high value crops have confirmed the various benefits of DMI. However, not many studies have researched the income and resource impact of drip irrigation including its benefit–cost pattern using survey data in crops like groundnut, which is an important oilseed crop in India. In this paper, an attempt has been made to fill this gap by using survey data collected from a water-scarce district from Tamil Nadu State in India. The results show that DMI can save about 34% of cultivation cost, 36% of water and electrical energy and increase about 79% of productivity over the same crop cultivated under conventional flood method of irrigation. The drip adopters are also able to generate an additional farm business income of Rs 25,911/acre (1 USD = INR 74.92, 1 acre = 4,047 m2) over the non-drip adopters. The net present worth and benefit–cost ratio estimated using discounted cash flow technique shows that investment in drip irrigation is economically highly viable for groundnut cultivating farmers.