Evaluating Rain–Hose Micro-Irrigation for Improving Water Use Efficiency and Profitability in Paddy Cultivation in a District in Kerala

Abstract

Paddy cultivation in Kerala faces challenges from water scarcity, labour shortages, and declining profitability, particularly in upland areas where conventional flood irrigation is inefficient. This study evaluated the performance of rain–hose spray irrigation—a low-pressure perforated hose system—on water use efficiency (WUE), yield, and economic returns in upland paddy fields of Thiruvananthapuram district. Field demonstrations covering 3.5 ha across 28 farmers compared conventional flood irrigation with rain–hose irrigation. Irrigation was scheduled daily for 15–30 minutes according to crop growth stage, and total seasonal water use was carefully monitored. Yield, WUE, labour requirements, and economic indicators including benefit–cost ratio (BCR) were analyzed using independent t-tests. Results showed that rain–hose irrigation increased yield by 23.0% (39.06 q/ha vs. 30.06 q/ha under flood irrigation) and improved WUE from 0.43 to 0.87 q/ha-cm. Water consumption decreased by approximately 60%, and labour requirements fell by 83% per hectare. Economic analysis indicated a BCR of 1.61 under rain–hose irrigation compared to 1.04 under conventional irrigation. These results demonstrate that rain–hose spray irrigation is a cost-effective, labour-saving, and water-efficient alternative for smallholder paddy farmers. The findings align with prior studies in India and other South Asian contexts, highlighting rain–hose irrigation’s potential to enhance climate resilience, resource use efficiency, and profitability in paddy cultivation