Economic Viability of Underground Pipeline Irrigation System Projects in Punjab: Evidences from Randomized Control Trials
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53550/ijsc.v53.i2.200Keywords:
Benefit-cost analysis Punjab, Randomized control trial, Underground pipeline system, Wheat equivalent yieldAbstract
Present study aims to evaluate the economics of Underground Pipeline Irrigation System (UGPS) installations completed in recent years in two districts of Punjab. Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) of Underground Pipeline System (UGPS) projects implemented in Patiala and Sangrur districts of Punjab during 2020–21 were evaluated The evaluation employed Randomized Control Trial (RCT) technique to assess economic and agronomic impacts of UGPS schemes implemented at both community and individual farmer levels. Beneficiary and control groups were randomly selected from an eligible farming population. Data was collected through structured interviews using pre-tested questionnaires. The primary indicators for impact assessment were Wheat Equivalent Yield (WEY), Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR), and Payback Period (PBP), calculated based on Minimum Support Price of wheat and paddy. In Patiala, community-level UGPS projects showed improvements in WEY ranging from 8.91% to 20.32% over control farms, with BCR values between 1.28 and 1.38, and payback periods of 5 to 7 years. For individual farmer projects, WEY gains ranged from 3.5% to 25.6%, BCRs from 1.26 to 1.36, and PBP from 4 to 9 years. In Sangrur, community-level projects achieved WEY increases of 1.97% to 5.55%, BCRs from 1.27 to 1.32, and PBP from 4 to 10 years. Individual projects showed 3.45% to 17.24% higher WEY than controls, with BCRs between 1.27 and 1.34, and PBP ranging from 4 to 9 years. Overall, the study confirmed that UGPS significantly enhances crop productivity and offer favourable economic returns, making it a viable intervention for sustainable agricultural water management in Punjab.
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