Abstract

                                Micro-irrigation is introduced primarily to save water and increase the water use efficiency in agriculture. Reduction in water consumption due to drip method of irrigation over the surface method of irrigation varies from 30 to 70 percent for different crops and productivity gain due to use of micro-irrigation is estimated to be in the range of 20 to 90 percent for different crops. The study was undertaken in Madurai district to study the intensity of adoption of drip irrigation, factors favouring adoption and the constraints faced by the respondents to adopt the technology. The major factors favouring adoption were water scarcity, high weed menace by conventional method of irrigation, less cost of cultivation, reduced labour requirement as reported by majority of respondents. The constraints experienced by majority of respondents were high initial cost of investment, delay in getting loan, and salt encrustation on drippers.

Key words : Drip irrigation, intensity of adoption, factors favouring adoption, constraints