The Drip irrigation Marketis estimated to be valued at USD 5.2 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 8.3 billion by 2027, recording a CAGR of 9.8% during the forecast period in terms of value.
Drip irrigation is increasing in popularity among growers, as it helps in transferring water to the roots of the plant where it is needed, at the correct volume, and without a lot of waste due to wind, runoff, overspray, and evaporation. Drip systems use between 20%-50% less water than traditional sprinkler systems. In addition to distributing water, drip irrigation systems can also distribute fertilizer, allowing the nutrients to be delivered to plants with minimal labor expense and workforce chemical exposure.
Market Dynamics:
Drivers: Cost efficiency in agricultural production
The increase in technology upgradation has reduced the need for the labor force in agriculture. The labor cost to operate a drip irrigation system is considered to be marginal, depending upon the level of automation. This type of irrigation has also been used in landscapes, greenhouses, home gardens, field crops, orchards, and vineyards.
Fertilizer application can also be made through drip irrigation, which is known as fertigation. Nutrients and water are applied near the root zone through fertigation, which results in higher absorption by crops. Through the uniform application of water and fertilizers, there is a possibility of obtaining 25%–50% more yield. The efficiency of fertilizer usage through fertigation is 80%–90%, which helps to retain 25% of the nutrients.
Restraints: High cost system maintenance
A drip irrigation system requires constant pressure to maintain the uniform flow of water. The continuous flow of water through lateral pipes may lead to the formation of algae, which would result in the clogging of emitters. Furthermore, the replacement of drip irrigation systems is expensive. Also, it is difficult to maintain these systems, as they require weekly chlorination that would further add up to the cost.
Opportunities: Increasing adoption of precision agriculture and sustainable practices
Sustainable agriculture approach can be defined as the production of food, fiber, or other animal products using farm practices, which nurture the environment, public health, human communities, and animal welfare. The adoption of agriculture by the conservation of water in a sustainable manner is one of the means for nurturing the environment.
Challenges: Soil salinity hazards and bio clogging in drip irrigation systems
A key point of salinity hazard stems from subsurface systems where it can be difficult to detect high salt content in the water. Controlling the salinity of the water is a major factor to be considered in the drip irrigation process. Salinity can be controlled by applying water over the root zone, which leads to leaching of the salts, as the soil water pushes the salts above the root layer. This helps maintain the salinity level of the water within the threshold levels.
Key players in this market include Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd. (India), Lindsay Corporation (US), The Toro Company (US), Rivulis (Israel), Hunter Industries Inc. (US), Netafim (Israel), DRIPWORKS (US), Irritec S.p.A (Italy), Goldenkey (UAE), KSNM DRIP (India), and Raindrip, Inc. (US).
