Good News for Sugarcane Farmers: Drip Irrigation Plants to be Installed in 30,000 Hectares

The Uttar Pradesh government shall install drip irrigation plants in 30,000 hectares of sugarcane area. The move shall be executed by Uttar Pradesh Sugarcane Development Department during 2021-22. 

Subsurface drip technology shall be used for the same. This would not only save water but also help the farmers in increasing their yield. More than 2,500 farmers from across the state shall benefit from this.

An official report said that drip irrigation is a technology which would make farmers prosperous in the long run by saving water. The Sugarcane Development Department has said that 2,566 farmers from the state have been selected to be the beneficiaries of this scheme. The technology would save around 50 to 60 percent of water which is used for irrigation purposes.  

According to a report published by India Today, Sanjay Bhoosreddy, Additional Chief Secretary, Sugarcane Department said that the technology would significantly reduce groundwater wastage. 

He mentioned that drip irrigation plants would be set up in the crushing season in 30,000 hectares of land. The scope of the scheme shall be expanded in the future, he further added.

"Better management of water resources will increase the income of the farmers. The government plans to implement this scheme on a large scale. The idea behind it is to link the farmers with technology so that their yield and in turn their income will increase," Bhoosreddy said.   

Drip Irrigation Is the Future 

Drip irrigation, or trickle irrigation, involves dripping water onto the soil very slowly (2-20 litres per hour). It has several proven benefits. 

A 2019 report by Krishi Jagran showed how tribal farmers in 68 villages of Harichandanpur block had significantly increased their income by the use of drip irrigation methods.

It has been proven that incorporation of technology into agricultural practices leads to very good results.