Bridging the Knowledge Gap: An Analysis of Farmer Awareness and Adoption of Modern Irrigation Techniques for Sustainable Agriculture

Abstract

Global freshwater resources are under unprecedented strain, with agriculture accounting for approximately 70% of all withdrawals. Traditional flood irrigation, still predominant in many regions, is highly inefficient, losing significant water volumes to evaporation, runoff, and deep percolation. In this context, modern irrigation techniques—including drip irrigation, sprinkler systems, laser land leveling, IoT-based automation, and fertigation—present a critical pathway toward enhancing water use efficiency, boosting crop productivity, and ensuring agricultural sustainability. However, the mere availability of these technologies is insufficient; farmer awareness and willingness to adopt them are the pivotal bridges between potential and practice. This study investigates the levels of farmer awareness, patterns of adoption, and the key barriers and enablers influencing the uptake of modern irrigation systems. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys with qualitative focus group discussions from a water-scarce region, the research finds that while awareness of basic systems like drip irrigation is moderately high, knowledge of advanced IoT-based solutions remains low. Adoption is primarily constrained by high initial investment costs, perceived technical complexity, and inadequate institutional support. The study concludes that a multi-pronged strategy is essential, involving targeted government subsidies, enhanced and digitized extension services, farmer-to-farmer training models, and the development of affordable, context-specific technologies. Ultimately, accelerating the adoption of modern irrigation is not merely an agricultural objective but a urgent imperative for global water and food security.