Factors Affecting Water and Electricity Usage Pattern among Farmers
Name of Student:
Guide:
Project Type:
M. Tech Project -I (TD 695)
Sector:
Agriculture
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Abstract:
Recently, the Maharashtra government made it compulsory for all the sugarcane farmers to switch to
drip method of irrigation over a period of 3 years. The report investigates its effect on small and
marginal sugarcane farmers in terms of the initial investment, adoption challenges and the said
benefits of this technology. The targeted beneficiaries of the recent policy change were identified
using Agriculture Census data 2011-12 at the taluka level. Based on secondary data analysis and
available contacts, Baramati taluka (Pune) and Osmanabad taluka (Ruibhar village) were chosen as
the study area. Baramati has numerous farmers using drip technology whereas Ruibhar has both types
of irrigation – furrow and drip. Additionally, drip irrigation was also studied in detail to understand
its technical characteristics and policy interventions by government in micro irrigation sector as a
whole. Key outcomes of these field visits and data analysis include identification of the barriers in
adopting drip irrigation technology and another research question of how irrigation schedules – both
furrow and drip methods – are impacting the yield, water and electricity consumption, which will be
pursued in the second phase of the M.Tech project.