Innovativeness of Farmers in Irrigation Scheduling for Major Plantation Crops: Analysis from Kerala State, India

Abstract

Soil moisture stress during summer is a major factor limiting higher crop productivity in Kerala State of India. The irrigated area in the State is only 18 % of the net sown area. The average productivity of many plantation crops is low, compared to the other regions of the country. For increasing crop productivity and net returns of farmers in Kerala, it is necessary to overcome crop water deficit by adopting scientific irrigation management. Under this study, 200 progressive farmers cultivating various upland crops in different agro ecological zones of Kerala were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire on irrigation management practices adopted by them. The irrigation schedule adopted by the farmers was compared with the recommendations for various crops, and accordingly, their innovativeness with regard to the quantity of water application and irrigation interval was analyzed. The irrigation methods adopted were also studied. The results revealed that even though a good proportion of coconut and arecanut farmers irrigate at intervals specified in the recommendations for the crops, majority of them are not applying quantity of water according to the recommendation. As far as irrigation methods are concerned, most of the arecanut and coconut farmers practice basin irrigation, which is a good method for these crops. A good proportion of coffee and cardamom farmers adopt scientific irrigation scheduling and improved irrigation methods like sprinkler, which may be attributed to the remunerative market price of the produce and better extension support available for them. The importance of profitability in farming for adopting scientific irrigation practices is evident from the study. Adoption of water saving drip irrigation by the farmers is insignificant, even when financial subsidy is provided by the Agriculture Department for promoting this irrigation technique.