Browsing by Author "Rinshina, T."

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    Economics of rainfeed, conventinal and drip irrigated coconut cultivation in Palakkad District, Kerala
    (Department of Agricultural Econimics, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, 2025) Rinshina, T.; Seenath Peedikakandi
    Water is a vital resource that sustains life on Earth, playing an essential role in ecosystems, regulating climate, and supporting biodiversity. In agriculture, efficient irrigation practices are essential for enhancing the resource use efficiency, ensuring food security and safeguarding water resources for future generations. Micro irrigation techniques such as drip irrigation can increase productivity, reduce wastage and minimize the environmental impact of farming operations. The study entitled “Economics of rainfed, conventional and drip irrigated coconut cultivation in Palakkad district, Kerala” aimed to estimate and compare the economics of rainfed, conventional, and drip-irrigated coconut cultivation. It further analysed the economic efficiency of irrigated farms and identified factors influencing and challenges in the adoption of drip irrigation. Palakkad district was purposively selected, owing to its status of minimal groundwater recharge in Kerala. From the district, two block panchayats viz. Chittur and Kollengode having highest area under drip irrigated coconut cultivation were purposively selected for the study. Data were collected from 140 respondents across two blocks, Chittur and Kollengode comprising 50 drip-irrigated farms (DIF), 50 conventionally irrigated farms (CIF) and 40 rainfed farms. The socio-economic profile of the farmers indicated that 38 per cent of the respondents were aged between 50 and 59 years, 52 per cent completed tenth grade and the majority (32%) had annual incomes ranging from ₹2 to ₹4 lakhs. Nearly half (47%) were small farmers and most (94%) having medium-sized families comprising of 3-6 members. The analysis of irrigation pattern in the farms revealed that drip irrigated farms could irrigate more frequently with 60 per cent irrigating every alternate day. Annual water use for drip-irrigated farms was 2685 m³/ha, substantially lower than the 6,745 m³/ha used by conventionally irrigated farms, highlighting the role of drip irrigation in water conservation. The amortised establishment costs were ₹15,518/ha/year for rainfed farms, ₹20,079/ha/year for CIF, and ₹19,695/ha/year for DIF. Maintenance costs amounted to ₹1,00,838/ha/year for rainfed farms, ₹1,44,485/ha/year for CIF, and ₹1,30,441/ha/year for DIF. Irrigation costs were significantly lower for drip-irrigated farms (₹22,038/ha) ii compared to conventionally irrigated farms (₹31,399/ha). DIF with total cost of cultivation of ₹1,59,267/ha/year) could achieve 10 per cent reduction in total cost of cultivation than that of CIF. Similarly, DIF could achieve highest productivity (19,035 nuts/ha/year), 9 per cent higher than CIF. Net returns were also highest in DIF (₹70,470/ha/year). Even though the cost of cultivation was lowest for rainfed farms (₹1,23,415/ha/year), they were having lowest yield and net returns. Technical efficiency analysis revealed that the mean efficiencies were 94 per cent for DIF and 82 per cent for CIF. Similarly, economic efficiencies were 90 per cent among DIF and 86 per cent among CIF. The resource use efficiency of irrigation water was 0.93 for drip irrigated farms and 0.16 for CIF showing overuse of water. Both DIF and CIF were using water more than the levels recommended as per KAU. The region has dry and intense agro-climatic conditions compared to other parts of the state making state level irrigation recommendations unreliable. The factors influencing the adoption of drip irrigation system were analysed using the binary logistic regression. The results revealed that the factors such as household income, education, type of water source, membership in social organisations, and irrigation costs were significantly influencing the adoption of drip irrigation. The major challenges for the adoption of drip irrigation were lack of funds, lack of streamline and proper implantation of subsidy, maintenance issues, poor water quality, destruction by animals and low awareness. The study concluded that drip irrigation improved water use efficiency, reduced costs, enhanced yields, and increased returns making it an effective option for water-scarce regions. Field trials need to be conducted specific to the region to estimate optimum quantity of water under drip irrigation. Demonstration trials and awareness creation programmes need to be carried out to popularise fertigation and optimum water use to reduce water wastage. Lack of funds was hindering adoption of drip irrigation and hence PMKSY micro irrigation subsidy scheme needed to be streamlined and made more flexible and timely.