M. N. VenkataramanaSADHANA, H. S.2023-02-282023-02-282023-02-01Th-13560https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810194590Agriculture is the largest sector of economic activity and provides not only food and raw materials but also employment to a very large population in India. Water scarcity is a key constraint to agricultural output and should be managed wisely and efficiently. Micro-irrigation (drip and sprinkler irrigation) is progressively gaining importance as a coping strategy for economic water scarcity. The study aimed at analyzing the impact of micro-irrigation on farmers’ welfare in Southern Karnataka. Using random sampling technique 240 sample farm households were selected representing 120 from Mandya district (Command area) and 120 from Kolar district (Water scarce area) with 60 adopters and 60 non-adopters of micro-irrigation, respectively. The average depth of the borewell was higher in (984 ft) Kolar district than in Mandya district (393 ft). Accordingly investment on borewell was higher in Kolar district (Rs. 3,00,714) than Mandya district(Rs.1,50,548). Therefore, the negative externality per borewell in Kolar district was higher (Rs. 35,225) than negative externality incurred by the farmers of Mandya district (Rs. 1,500). Result revealed that variables such as dependency ratio, share of area under fruits and vegetables, farm income and credit accessibility had positive effect on the probability of adoption of micro irrigation by the households of Mandya and Kolar district. The Composite Livelihood Security Index of sample households showed that micro-irrigation adopters of both Mandya and Kolar districts were having higher Livelihood Security Index followed by non-adopters of Mandya and Kolar district, respectively. The fractional probit model's finding demonstrate that, in Kolar district farm income, land holdings and family size had significantly contributed towards higher livelihood security. Whereas in Mandya district farm income, land holdings had positive and family size had negative contribution with a substantial effect on the livelihood security index, implying that micro irrigation adopters had greater livelihood security than non-adopters of micro-irrigation.EnglishThesis