International Agri-Business Management Institute

Anand Agricultural University

Anand - 388 110
Name : Rajput Babalukumar S.
Rg. No. : 04-2303-2013

Guide: Dr. Sanjiv Kumar

Date : 15/04/2014

Synopsis
Title: Problems and Prospects of Micro Irrigation Industry in India

Introduction
Agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy providing direct employment to about 52 percent
(Census-2011) of working population in the country. Agriculture contributes about 13.75 (201213) per cent to GDP of our country with such a huge contribution. Indian agriculture is still
paralyzed in terms of using modern agriculture and practices.
The demand for land and water in India is continuously escalating due to increased population.
The land can be used intensively even up to 3 crops in a year for which water is needed.
Therefore water management is very essential and crucial for agricultural development.
Research studies conducted in India by various institutions have indicated that water saving is
about 4080% and the yield increase is up to 100% for different crops by using micro-irrigation.

Rationale of Study
Micro irrigation plays a significant role in enhancing agricultural productivity. Micro irrigation
helps to reduce more kinds of energy/water losses and thereby increase food safety and revenues
for farmers. Though both drip and sprinkler irrigation methods are in use over the last three
decades and not many studies seem to have studied about problems and prospects of microirrigation covering different states in India.

Objectives
(1) To study the Present status of micro irrigation in India.
(2) To study the Problems faced by micro irrigation industry in India.
(3) To study market opportunities for micro irrigation industry in India.

What is Micro Irrigation System?

It is a slow & regular application of water directly to the root zone of plants through a network
of economically designed plastic pipes and low discharge emitter is called micro irrigation
system.
Types of Micro irrigation System

Drip Irrigation System

Sprinkler Irrigation System

Application of drip irrigation system

Drip irrigation is adopted extensively for crops such as coconuts, grapes, bananas, ber, citrus,
strawberries, sugarcane, cotton, and horticulture crops.
Application of sprinkler irrigation system
Sprinkler irrigation is suitable for crops like Wheat, Gram, Pulses, Cotton, Soya bean, Tea,
Coffee, Vegetables and other fodder crops.
Advantages of Micro Irrigation system
There are several advantages of Micro Irrigation System (MIS) such as it improves yield, saves
water, labor, fertilizer, energy, and controls disease growth as well as weed growth.
Disadvantages of Micro Irrigation system
It is expensive system with high maintenance. It faces problems like Clogging of emitter and
Salinity.

Present status of micro irrigation in India

Table:1 Geographical Status of India
Area in India

Mha

Total geographical area

328.72

Net Sown Area

141.58

Gross Irrigated area

89.36

Net Irrigated area

63.60

(Source: Agricultural statistics at a glance 2013, Directorate of economics & Statistics,

Ministry of Agriculture, GoI.)
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India is having 63.60 Mha net irrigated land availability. Apart from this, we have covered about
6 Mha of land under micro irrigation systems. The adoption of MIS is largely found in states
like Rajasthan , Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Gujarat.
Micro Irrigation Industry India
There are near about 130 micro irrigation suppliers are providing the MIS to the farmers all over
the India. Market Share of major Irrigation Companies in India is Jain Irrigation 55%, Netafim
25%, Nagarjuna Group 6%, Parikshit Industries 5%, Premier Irrigation 3%, EPC 3% and others
3%. Micro-irrigation technology requires fixed investment that varies from Rs. 15,000 to Rs.
1,20,000 per hectare depending upon the nature of crops.
Government Support for Adoption of Micro Irrigation
National Mission on Micro irrigation was started in all states of India. Under this NMMI
scheme, assistance is provided at 40 % for general farmers and at 50 % of the system cost for
small and marginal farmers. Since 2005-06, a sum of Rs. 2739 crore has been released by the
GOI under the scheme. In the year 2010, the GOI has upgraded its micro irrigation scheme to a
national mission with an outlay of Rs 8,032.90 crore to save scarce irrigation water. Around
5,40,990 farmers have got the benefits of this scheme. Maximum benifited farmers are from
Andhra Pradesh (1,23,773) followed by Maharashtra (1,18,000), Karnataka (75462), Rajasthan
(57988), and Gujarat (42326).

Problems in Micro Irrigation Industry

Micro irrigation industry is majorly facing problems from technical aspects of product,
government schemes for subsidies, competitors and farmers also.
Technical
MIS components are so expensive so all farmers are not able to afford it. There are chances of
clogging of emitters and other components of micro irrigation systems. Maintenance is more in
this system. In the field after installation of MIS, rodents also damage the components of micro
irrigation system.

Competitors
There is variation in quality of most of the MIS suppliers and poor after-sales-service affect the
growth of the micro irrigation in India.
Government

Subsidy is not provided as per farm condition for sprinkler

Electricity availability in night time which is not suitable for portable sprinkler
irrigation system

Approval for sub-standard components by government

Rate of subsidy fixed uniformly for both water intensive as well as less waterintensive crops

Delay in sanctioning of subsidy

Lack of extension and training

Farmers

Illiteracy of farmers

Lack of awareness about MIS

High cost of installation

Farming not perceived as business

Sufficient availability of water.

Risk of thievery

Opportunities for Micro Irrigation Industry in India

India is a country about 121 crores of population which is around 18 % of worlds population
with only 2.4 % of world area. To meet the food requirement of every Indian is a very
challenging task. So our major emphasis is to increase the productivity of our farm yield.
Even though, the area under Micro irrigation has increased from 78,360 ha in 1997-98 to
2,51,510 ha in 2000-01 and further to 6,11,980 ha as of 2010-11. Though remarkable growth
has been achieved over the last 15 years in adopting micro-irrigation, its share to the gross
irrigated area of the country is only negligible percent as of today. Adoption of MIS is increased
year by year, there is total 6 Mha area covered under MIS from 63.30 Mha net irrigated land
upto Dec.,2013. So, there is huge scope is remaining to cover 57.6 Mha area in India.
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Conclusion
Out of 63.60 Mha of Net Irrigated Area, only 9 % is covered under micro irrigation systems.
Though government is promoting micro irrigation through subsidies and other ways, the micro
irrigation industry is facing problems in terms of technical aspects of product, competitors,
government and its policies and farmers also. The untapped area (91 %) could be considered as
a good potential for micro irrigation industry in coming years.

References
Anonymous (2010), Report on Gujarat Green Revolution Agriculture governance, Forbes
India, New Delhi, India.
GoI (2010), National Mission on Micro irrigation, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of
Agriculture and Cooperation, New Delhi. P: 3,8,20.
GoI (2013), Pocket book on Agricultural Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of
Agriculture and Cooperation, Directorate of Economics & Statistics, New Delhi. P: 20.
GoI (2013), Quarterly Bulletin, National horticulture Mission, Department of Agriculture &
Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, New Delhi. P: 9,10.
Harshal I. (2011), Report on Business opportunities for micro irrigation systems in South
Gujarat, International Agri-Business Management Institute, Anand Agricultural University,
Anand 388 110, Gujarat, India. P: 1,4,5
Narayanamoorthy (2010), Report on Potential for Drip and Sprinkler irrigation in India,
Hyderabad, A.P.
Sugandha K. (2012), Report on Study of awareness and perception of micro irrigation systems
and government schemes among the farmers in Gujarat state, International Agri-Business
Management Institute, Anand Agricultural University, Anand 388 110, Gujarat, India. P: 1-8.
http://www.agricoop.nic.in Accessed on 18-March, 2014.
http:// netafim india.com, Accessed on 20-March, 2014.
http:// jain irrigation systems limited.com, Accessed on 20-March, 2014.
http://iaiindia.org/memberlist, Accessed on 25-March, 2014.
http://www.icid.org/wiley_journal.html, accessed on 2, April, 2014