Beyond Awareness: Economic, Technical & Institutional Barriers to Drip Irrigation Adoption among Vegetable Growers in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

The efficient use of irrigation water has become a critical concern in Indian agriculture due to increasing water scarcity and declining groundwater levels. Drip irrigation is widely promoted as a water-saving technology, particularly for vegetable cultivation; however, its adoption remains limited among farmers. The present study examines the constraints faced by farmers in adopting drip irrigation for vegetable crops in selected districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh. Primary data were collected from 120 non-adopting tomato and chilli growers across Sonbhadra and Mirzapur districts using a structured survey schedule. Garrett’s ranking technique was employed to identify and prioritise major constraints affecting adoption. The results reveal that high maintenance costs emerged as the most severe constraint, followed by limited crop diversification, clogging of drippers, and lack of access to subsidy facilities. High initial investment and damage to drip systems by animals and rodents were also reported as significant barriers. Institutional and extension-related constraints, though relatively less severe, continue to influence adoption decisions. The study highlights that economic sustainability and operational reliability play a more decisive role than awareness alone in shaping farmers’ adoption behaviour. Addressing these constraints through targeted financial support, improved technical services, and strengthened extension mechanisms is essential for promoting drip irrigation and achieving sustainable water management in vegetable cultivation. From a policy perspective, the findings underscore the need for targeted financial support mechanisms, simplification of subsidy delivery systems, improved after-sales technical services, and strengthened extension support to address the most binding constraints and enhance the adoption of drip irrigation for sustainable water management in vegetable cultivation.