Study on the adoption of micro irrigation system over the currently practiced conventional methods of irrigation systems in Vavuniya district, Sri Lanka

Abstract

An adequate water supply is vital for plant growth where various metabolic activities are carried out in order to satisfy the demand of foods for the growing population. However, rainfall pattern in Sri Lanka recognized as bimodal and nowadays it has been varied due to the climate’s changes. Therefore, rainfall is insufficient to fulfill the plant’s need and there must be additional water from proper irrigation systems for the successful continuation. For that, farmers have adopted various methods of irrigation system in order to irrigate their plants however; those have both advantages and disadvantages, as well. Hence, there are needs to choose the right method which fit a lot to the local circumstances. Micro-irrigation also called as localized, low-volume, low-flow, or trickle irrigation, is an irrigation method with lower water. Therefore, this current study was formulated to understand the current status of the Micro Irrigation System and the factors influencing on the adoption of new technology in Pampamadu area of the Vavuniya District, Sri Lanka. At the study location 150 fruits and vegetable farmers from 14 GN Divisions were randomly selected and the collected data were interpreted through the SPSS for its valid responses. According to the results obtained through the study, only 15% of the respondents have adopted MIS for their fruits and vegetable cultivation. Nearly 60% and 80.5% of the respondents were within the age range of 36-55 years in Non-MIS and MIS adaptation in fruits and vegetable cultivation. However, 60.9% (MIS) and 48.8% (Non-MIS) of those were solely (100%) devoted to farming activities. In MIS adaptation, 25.4% of the total was accomplished with Higher Education and 55.7% were succeeded with Tertiary Level of education which was comparatively lower in Non-MIS adoption, as well. However, all the respondents used rain water in Maha Season for their paddy cultivation. Among the Non-MIS adoption, 74.8% of the respondents used energy sources (electricity - 65.26%, solar power -6.3% and fuel -28.4% and man power - 25.2%) for the irrigation purposes where 65.2% had better awareness on MIS. And also, lack of knowledge and lack of capital were with the responds of 9.5% and 43.3%, respectively. On the other hand, 47.9%, 21.7% and 30.4% practiced Drip system, Sprinkler System and both sprinkler and drip irrigation, respectively in the whole of MIS adoption. As the whole, more than 82.6% of the MIS adopted farmers benefited through the MIS techniques. Though the study location supplies more fruits and vegetable to the people, farmers who adopted MIS faced difficulties on finding spare parts (90%) while the system is under reparation. As being only few people adopted the system, it is obvious for lack of spare parts options within the study location and farmers need to travel far for obtaining the spare parts as well. Finally, it should be countered and encouraged towards both MIS and Non- MIS adopted farmers to obtain more benefits in all the season of the country.