Unwieldy and costly irrigation schemes have resulted in inefficient and unsustainable water use. While some farmers have more than what they need, others have little or hardly any access to it at all. Huge losses, both in terms of water and money, are incurred under the major and medium irrigation schemes. According to India’s Eighth Five Year Plan document, the expenditure for one hectare (ha) of irrigation has increased from Rs 1,526 in the First Plan to over Rs 150,000 in the Ninth Plan! Millions are spent on creating irrigation facilities, but they often result in unequal distribution and careless use of water. Most farmers at the very tail-end of the canal systems are often not even able to access any
irrigation water at all.

Making it stretch
Efficient use of water is the answer to many of these problems. Much of India’s cultivable area is fed on rainwater, which leaves farmers vulnerable to drought. Drip irrigation can effectively enable farmers in drought-prone areas to stretch their meagre supplies of water. It can also be used successfully in hilly and undulating terrains, which can never be brought under "command areas" of conventional irrigation projects as much of the water would simply flow off.

According to Professor A Narayanamoorthy of the Gokhale Insitute of Politics and Economics, Pune, 58 million ha of land in India is fallow and barren. At least half of this can be brought under drip irrigation projects and handed over to poor and landless labourers. This would contribute to poverty reduction and augment the productivity of agricultural commodities with less investment.

What are the benefits?
Higher crop yields: A regulated water supply leads to greater productivity as it optimises water requirement. Studies have indicated that the drip irrigation method also contributes to early maturity and improved quality of crops.

Efficient use of available water: Precise water application through the drip method makes irrigation more efficient, which is especially important in areas where water is scarce or expensive. It also reduces water loss through evaporation and runoff or deep percolation, making it possible to manage difficult soils such as the crusting or porous and sandy varieties.

Reduced labour costs: Due to the precise and measured application of water, fertilisers and herbicides, labour and operational costs are greatly reduced.

Lesser cost for fertiliser and other chemicals: Using the drip system, a farmer can apply nutrients and pesticides more precisely to his crops, thereby reducing fertiliser costs and nitrate losses.

Soil health and groundwater health: Since fertiliser application is regulated, there is little wastage and pollution due to leaching. In the long run, drip irrigation is sustainable and provides greater food security and social progress. Not only because conventional irrigation is vulnerable to drought, but also because excessive irrigation (the over-use of water) is bad for the soil.

Clearly, drip irrigation has a tremendous potential in India. Over 80 crops, including well-known water guzzlers like sugarcane and banana, can be brought under drip irrigation.

In terms of crop-wise distribution, about half the area under drip irrigation comprises orchards while another significant portion comes under plantation crops.

The technology is most popular among citrus orchards and grapes in Maharashtra, coconut in Tamil Nadu, and mulberry in Karnataka.