Work

Water withdrawal and sustainability concerns in sugarcane cultivation in Western India: An application of the SURE model

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: This study attempts to quantify farmers' response to output and input prices for irrigation water use to examine the issue of sustainability in sugarcane cultivation in Maharashtra, India. We used a seemingly unrelated regression estimator (SURE) to estimate a translog profit function model. Secondary data on production costs covering the period of 1971–2021 were used. The results show that the sugarcane price affects not only production but also irrigation demand. The elasticity of irrigation demand with respect to the output price is highly responsive (i.e. 1.94), which could be the main reason for groundwater extraction. The continuous increase in the guaranteed price of sugarcane and the relatively lower cost of irrigation motivate farmers to continue sugarcane cultivation. The findings of this study justify significant policy interventions for the sustainable production of sugarcane in Maharashtra.

Source: Irrigation and Drainage

DOI: 10.1002/ird.3014

Authors: T. Kingsly Immanuelraj, Balasubramanian Mohan, Arivelarasan Tamilarasu, Sant Kumar

Institutions: Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Kaveri University

Language: English

Topic: Agricultural Economics and Practices

Subfield: General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: bronze

OpenAlex ID: W4401460058

FWCI: 1.462

Cites: 32

Cited by: 2

Related to: 10