Economics of Drip Irrigation: A Comparative Study of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu

Over-exploitation of water resource due to the inefficient use has caused deep concern during the last two decades. This is common across the sources of irrigation. The dilemma of the situation is that on the one side we have the fast increasing density of wells/canal systems causing stress on water resources and on the other side stands the largely salinated land mass. The only reason for these two is the inefficiency in use of water for irrigation. Resouroe literacy. proper pricing policy or legislating access to water are a few methods suggested to control the use rates. On the technology front however, we have different methods of irrigation which directly control the water delivery System. In the eighth plan a centrally sponsored scheme on 'Use of Plastics' in Agriculture' was launched to promote plastic in agriculture. Drip irrigation method has been one of them. It is also referred to as 'micro irrigation' along with the other such methods like sprinkler irrigation perforated pipes etc. Initially drip irrigation was used under water stress conditions to vegetable crops and using this Israel could achieve high productivity growth.