Micro Irrigation: Valuable Innovation for Irrigation Management

Water is the primary need for agriculture, availability of water plays a critical role in the life cycle of any crop. The water requirement of crop changes from time to time during the life cycle of crop and farmers needs to adjust the amount of water accordingly. Here the management of water must be appropriate, excessive supply of water may cause harm to crops and also to soil.  Poor management of water supply leads to degradation of soil, reduce productivity, create waterlogged conditions, and water salinization problems. To overcome these challenges in irrigation management, Micro Irrigation is the innovation that helps to utilized precise water to deliver higher outcomes.

What is Micro-Irrigation?
In simple terms, a method of irrigation in which water is given to the plants through drop by drop, continuous, or stream near to its root zones area with the help of drippers, sprinklers, or by fogger. It is one of the efficient ways by which excessive use of water can be restricted. The slow application of water above or below the soil surface is the main feature of Micro Irrigation. This unique feature of micro-irrigation helps to overcome the challenges of rapid depletion of groundwater, water salinization, runoff, and leaching activities. Because of its affordability and water efficiency, it emerges as a boon for the Indian farmer community

As India has a large number of small and marginal farmers, considering the socio-economic status of Indian farmers, this micro-irrigation act as valuable innovation in farm irrigation management. To understand why micro-irrigation is called a valuable innovation? Let's take a deep drive about the micro-irrigation system.

Micro-Irrigation System:
The micro-irrigation system is broadly categorized into five different types for convenience and to fulfill the requirements of crops.

1. Drip Irrigation
2. Sprinkler Irrigation
3. Spray irrigation
4. Subsurface Irrigation
5. Bubbler irrigation

These different micro-irrigation systems are used according to the types of crops, the water requirement of the crop, frequency of irrigation, etc. Even though there are different types of micro-irrigation systems still the major components of a micro-irrigation system remain the same which are pumping motor, mainline, emitters, drippers, dripper lines, valves, filters, connector, flexible and PE pipe, fertigation equipment, etc.

Along with this let's have a look at different micro-irrigation systems kits which are available in the market. The size, specification, and price of the system may be changed per the purpose of using the system. The following micro-irrigation system is used by smallholding farmers, small-scale commercial units, and is ideal for small and marginal farmers.

1. Bucket kit system
2. Drum kit system
3. Micro sprinklers system

Advantages of Micro Irrigation System:
Micro-Irrigation system is water-efficient technology that helps to produce a higher yield. An adequate and appropriate amount of water supply leads to produce high-quality crops and increased fruit size in the case of horticulture crops. These systems are best suitable for all types of soil. Effective fertigation and chemigation are possible through a micro-irrigation setup. This active practice helps to save on labour, fertilizer, and huge electric cost. It will also enhance soil condition, enable reuse of water, reduce evaporation and runoff. Water usage efficiency under various irrigation systems is illustrated as follows.

Micro-Irrigation System Market in India:
In India, consumption of fresh water in the agriculture sector is much higher compared with other sectors. Due to the traditional approach of irrigation, consumption of water becomes higher and raises concern for the scarcity of water in the future. To avoid excess water losses, the adoption of micro-irrigation can be one approach. In the present scenario, the socio-economic status of Indian farmers won’t allow them to move towards complete precision farming for sustainability in agriculture. Thus, a mixed bag of precision farming with affordable and basic technology innovation is growing in the Indian market, micro-irrigation is also one of those.

At present, the worldwide micro-irrigation systems market is anticipated toward being worth USD 9.7 billion in 2021, rising to USD 15.1 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 9.3% in terms of value during the projected period. For India, the average national micro-irrigation penetration rate is 5.5 percent, which is significantly lower compared to other nations, and therefore only a few states have penetration rates higher than the national average. As there are ongoing technological developments in terms of equipment that will drive the growth of the market and growing food demand and rising population are the primary factors boosting the market growth for India. Also, growing consciousness regarding the need for water conservation is expected to strengthen the growth of the micro irrigation systems market.

Government Aid for Micro Irrigation:
By giving subsidies to growers, the government is involved in assisting farmers in establishing micro-irrigation systems. Many regional governments give farmers free electricity. Farmer in poor nations is urged to use micro-irrigation devices to boost production by utilizing water more efficiently. Government backing is a major driver of the market, and it is likely to continue to have a significant influence over the projected period.

The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna (PMKSY) is a major initiative announced by the Hon’ble Prime Minister in 2015 to expand irrigation coverage and improve water efficiency. This program emphasizes all elements of water creation and management, with micro-irrigation as a key component. All 640 districts in India have been allocated roughly Rs. 1075 crores for micro-irrigation.

Conclusion
Irrigation has made a significant contribution to India's agricultural growth and development, by focusing on output, quality, and sustainability. As India has a large group of small and marginal farmers; it is self-evident that micro-irrigation plays a critical role in achieving long-term sustainability in Indian agriculture. However, keeping in mind the socioeconomic position of the Indian farmer, we can conclude that there is a long way to go and intensive demonstrations, training, and awareness campaigns are required to educate the Indian agricultural community about micro-irrigation methods. To achieve this, we must collaborate with them and demonstrate the technology to draw fruitful results for vulnerable groups in our society.