R.S. Sidhu

Assessing the economic impact of a low-cost water-saving irrigation technology in Indian Punjab: the tensiometer

ABSTRACT This article assesses the impact of the tensiometer on the consumption of groundwater and electric power in paddy cultivation in Indian Punjab, and its subsequent economic benefits. We find that compared to the continuous flooding method, the tensiometer-based application of irrigation reduces water and power consumption by 13%, cutting variable costs by 7% without any yield penalty. If 30% of the paddy area is irrigated following tensiometer-based schedules, then the state could save a total of 0.67 million ha m of water and 1516 million kWh of electric power in 2010–2025, with aggregate economic benefits of US

Growth Pattern and Economic Impacts of Wheat Productivity on Punjab Agriculture

459 million.

Optimal Crop Plans for Sustainable Water Use in Punjab

The present study makes an attempt to describe a simple strategy of how production of wheat increased manifold, strengthening food security in India, on the basis of past empirical evidence. The study uses the secondary data on wheat productivity and important inputs which are hypothesized to be its significant determinants spanned over the period 1970–71 to 2009–10. The simultaneous equation model was used to estimate various parameters. Expansion in irrigated area resulted in larger area under high yielding varieties of wheat in order to realize higher production and profits. In Punjab, the elasticity of wheat area with respect to cropping intensity was very high at 0.68 and that of irrigation was about 0.6 (through cropping intensity). Expansion in irrigation helped in significantly increasing wheat production in the state. The average productivity of wheat in India can be raised by expanding irrigation in India. The yield gaps need to be bridged by targeted extension activities to encourage adoption of modern technologies including high yielding seeds, fertilizers and other inputs. The policy should therefore lay emphasis on the development of irrigation potential in the country. Secondly, the already created irrigation potential must be exploited fully through the maintenance of old irrigation infrastructure.