Impact of Drip Irrigation Technology on Input use and Productivity in Banana: Evidence from Gujarat

The impact of drip irrigation technology in banana cultivation on input use and productivity was studied by collecting data from 120 drip farms and 120 non-drip farms of Anand and Vadodara districts during 2017-18. It was revealed from the study that per ha cost of cultivation of banana i.e. cost C2 was slightly less i.e. Rs 205190.4 under drip method of irrigation whereas under conventional method, it was Rs 212972.8. The average yield per ha i.e. 785.68 quintal and net gains over cost C2 per ha i.e. Rs 330924.4 was higher for drip irrigated farms as compared to conventional banana growers, in which average yield per ha was 660.15 quintal and net gains over cost C2 was Rs 239536.4. The yield and net profit were found significantly higher (about 19% and 38%) on drip farms over conventionally irrigated farms, which indicated that productivity was higher in drip method due to efficient use of inputs or resources. Due to drip irrigation system resources were saved over conventionally irrigated farms i.e. labor (19.99%), water (31.11%), growth regulators (22.72%), plant protection chemicals (22.30%), fertilizers (13.23%) and manures (7.78%). Benefit cost ratio over cost-C2 under drip and conventional method of irrigation was 2.61 and 2.12, respectively. Therefore these revealed the advantages of drip in terms of yield and returns.