Adoption of Drip Irrigation System by Orange Growers in Amravati Taluka

Investigation was carried out during the year 2009 -10 from 15 villages of Amravati taluka of Amravati district, 120 respondents (orange growers) who adopted, drip irrigation system were randomly selected for the study. Data were collected from the orange growers with help of pretested schedule by personal interview method. The result revealed that majority 47.50 per cent of respondent orange growers had medium level of adoption of drip irrigation system while, 30.83 per cent of respondent orange growers were low level of adoption and 21.66 per cent of respondent posses high level of adoption of drip irrigation system. The correlation analysis related to independent variable viz. education, annual income, Innovation, knowledge, socio-economic status and, extent of extension contact, cosmopoliteness and awareness shows significant and positive relationship with adoption of drip irrigation system. While age, land holding and social participation showed negative and non-significant correlationship between adoption of drip irrigation system. Majority of respondents faced constraints like load shading of electricity for too long interval (10-14 hrs/day) expressed by 100 per cent of orange growers, damage due to rodents (85.00 per cent), choking of micro tubes and drippers (81.66 per cent), non-availability of repair services (85.00 per cent) and lack of technical knowledge is 70.00 per cent and lack of knowledge about application of fertilizer (fertigation) (71.66 per cent). To overcome these constraints it was observed that provide regular supply of electricity, Increase the subsidy and facility on drip irrigation by government and training should be given to the farmers regarding operation, maintenance, repairing and application of water soluble fertilizers.