THE INITIATIVE

• Introduction of drip irrigation system for cultivation of sugarcane

THE BENEFICIARIES

• 16,000 farmers of Shirol and Kolhapur districts, Maharashtra

THE CHALLENGE

• Repeated use of flood irrigation had led to poor drainage and increased soil salinity
• Farmers’ belief in the myth that more water leads to higher crop yield
• Drip irrigation practiced by a negligible percentage of farmers

THE SOLUTION

• NABARD sanctioned a ? 180 lakh loan to Datta Shetkari Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd. for installing drip irrigation system in sugarcane fields
• Capacity-building workshops stressed on how drip irrigation can reduce use of water by nearly 50 percent
• Appropriate utilisation ensured direct payments to drip manufacturers

THE IMPACT

• Visible reduction in cost of cultivation after adoption of drip irrigation and Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative
• Water requirement for sugarcane cultivation down to 940mm per acre 1,500-2,500mm from the earlier per acre
• Technical demonstration helped farmers adopt new and progressive methods of cultivation
• Use of optimum fertilisers expected to increase yield by 50 percent