An Assessment of the Economic Impact of Drip Irrigation on Cotton Cultivation in Tamil Nadu

The study aims to evaluate the impact of drip irrigation on crop productivity and income of the farmers cultivating cotton crop in Salem districts in Tamil Nadu, India. It investigates water savings, yield differences, and the economic viability of drip irrigation compared to conventional flood irrigation. Data were collected from 100 farmers (50 drip adopters and 50 flood adopters), and the study finds that drip irrigation significantly reduces water consumption, ranging from 39 per cent as compared to flood method of irrigation. Additionally, it was found that drip irrigation improves crop productivity, the productivity difference between drip irrigated cotton (18.89 qtl/acre) and flood irrigated cotton (12.68 qtl/acre) comes to about 6.21 qtl/acre, which is about 49 percent higher than the same harvested using flood method of irrigation. Increased productivity with reduced consumption of water under DMI has not only increased the water productivity substantially but also the electricity productivity. The profit (farm business income) of the cotton crop cultivated using DMI is also substantially higher by about Rs. 48606/acre than that of the profit realised from FMI. The net present worth and benefit-cost ratio estimated using discounted cash flow technique shows that the drip investment in cotton cultivation is economically viable under both ’with’ and ’without’ subsidy condition. The results of the study suggest that cultivation of cotton crop under drip method of irrigation would greatly benefit the farmers. However, promoting drip method of irrigation possibly could reduce the distress of the cotton growing farmers in Tamil Nadu as well as in other parts of India. The study suggests that increased adoption of drip irrigation could reduce water scarcity issues, improve the income of small farmers, and contribute to sustainable agricultural practices in India. However, awareness and adoption of drip irrigation remain inadequate, government intervention is needed to encourage its widespread use.