Challenges of saving water: the adoption and impact of micro-irrigation technology in agriculture

Abstract

The large-scale use of traditional irrigation methods has pushed agriculture towards extensive and unsustainable water use. The thesis focuses on the adoption and impact of Micro-Irrigation (MI) technology, considered an outstanding way of saving water. Given the critical importance of the resource, government policies have actively promoted MI to improve water use efficiency. However, the adoption remains low and varied with many challenges. The literature on MI lacks a comprehensive approach and misses key factors. Issues such as, what are the key determinants of adoption, what is the evolution and impact of policy in promoting the technology, what is its impact on the cropping pattern, water consumption, yields, and incomes â remain to be thoroughly examined through a holistic framework. The thesis attempts to fill these gaps using a comprehensive framework of agricultural technology adoption in developing countries, developed through Desai and Stone (1987), Gandhi and Desai (1992) and Gandhi (2014). The thesis examines the role of all factors of adoption grouped under agronomic potential, agro-economic potential, effective demand, aggregate supply, and distribution. The thesis also examines the question of Jevonsâ paradox in resource use.The research uses primary data from 501 farmers across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Telangana states covered under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). The study shows that MI adoption is driven by substantial advantages in agronomic potential and agro-economic potential, including cropping intensity, and crop diversification. It results in significant per hectare saving of water and increase in yields and incomes. There is an indication of the Jevonsâ paradox in some crops which are less water intensive but high value in nature. Some challenges exist in aggregate supply and distribution, specifically in subsidy disbursement, access to finance, and after sale services. The thesis draws the attention of policymakers towards high satisfaction with the technology, but skewed distribution of government subsidy uptake, area coverage, and time of subsidy disbursement. The study contributes to the literature by bringing more profound understanding of the technology adoption process and its impact on crop diversification, yield, and the water conservation paradox. The findings indicate the need to improve access to subsidy, finance, and information, through the launch of special purpose vehicles which can facilitate and accelerate the adoption.