Factors influencing irrigation technology and water management in Georgia

Improved irrigation technology and water management could increase water conservation. This study focused on factors impacting farmers’ adoption of newer water irrigation technologies and water management practices in Georgia. A mail-out questionnaire was administered to irrigation farmers on comparative costs of irrigation systems and farm irrigation water management practices. Farmers were knowledgeable on current comparative costs of different irrigation systems. Important factors to farmers in purchasing irrigation systems were: water delivery efficiency, labor requirements and maintenance expense. Multivariate linear regression was used to estimate the degree to which certain factors influence irrigation water use. Results show higher pumping costs are accompanied by reduced irrigation water use. Inclusion of irrigation water management variables in the estimation of irrigation water use, improved the performance of the model.