Prioritization of major constraints in micro-irrigation technology adoption encountered by the cotton growers in North Maharashtra

Abstract

Proper utilization and efficient development of the limited water resources is the milestone for food security for the entire world. Micro-irrigation technology facilitates improvement in water saving, water use efficiency, yield of the crop, investment in and short payback periods. The data was collected from 60 adopter and 60 non-adopter farmers of Dhule and Nandurbar districts of Maharashtra, India by personal interview through a pre-tested questionnaire. The constraints faced by the farmers in adoption of micro-irrigation technology were identified and put before the sample farmers and the farmers were asked to list priority-wise major constraints they were facing in micro-irrigation technology adoption for construction of a Responses-Priority Index (RPI). High initial investment of micro-irrigation system, clogging and chocking of emitters, unavailability of subsidy on time, lack of technical knowhow of micro- irrigation system and complex and lengthy procedure of loan were most perceived constraints with RPI values of 0.97, 0.90, 0.77, 0.70 and 0.68, respectively influenced the decision of micro-irrigation technology adoption.