O. P. SINGH* AND P. K. SINGH
Department of Agricultural Economics, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-211 005 (Uttar Pradesh), India
*(e-mail : ompsingh@gmail.com; Mobile : 9450392935)
(Received : February 21, 2020: Accepted : April 18, 2020)
ABSTRACT
The irrigation water use for crop production in the country was 82% of total water use. To reduce the agricultural water demand, demand side interventions are required. Out of several options, conservation agriculture with crop residue management helps farmers to reduce the water use for crop production. The present study was an attempt to estimate the agronomic and net economic water productivity under zero-
tillage adopters and non-adopters. The study was based on primary data and it was collected from Mirzapur, Gorakhpur, Kaushambi and Ghaziabad districts. The results suggested that cost of wheat cultivation was
lower for zero tillage adopters as compared to non-adopters. Per hectare wheat yield (main and by-product) was higher for zero-tillage adopters as compared to non-adopters. Irrigation water used by zero-tillage adopters and non-adopters was 3359.47 and 3930.38 m3, respectively. The agronomic water productivity was higher (1.34 kg/m3) for zero-tillage adopters as compared to non-adopters (0.93 kg/m3). The net economic water productivity for zero-tillage adopters was (Rs.6.59/m3) higher than non-adopters (Rs.0.37/m3).
Key words : Zero-tillage, agronomic, water productivity, net economic, water productivity