Micro irrigation is an effective tool for conserving water resources and studies have revealed significant water saving ranging between 25 and 50 per cent by drip irrigation compared with surface irrigation, with yield increases as high as 100 per cent in some crops under specific locations.

Fertigation provides Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium as well as the essential trace elements directly to the active root zone, thus minimizing the loss of expensive nutrients, which ultimately helps in improving productivity and quality of farm produce. Nutrients are delivered to the restricted root zone (wetted soil) in a readily available form and frequent delivery of water and nutrients replenish the small volume of soil in the active root zone, nourishing the crop throughout the entire growing season.

World Bank assisted IAMWARM Project (Irrigated Agriculture Modernization and Water Bodies Restoration and Management Project) was formulated with the objective to improve irrigation service delivery and productivity of irrigated agriculture with effective integrated water resources management in 25 river basins of Tamil Nadu. Micro irrigation technologies especially drip fertigation was demonstrated in crops viz., sugarcane, banana, tapioca, vegetables and flowers. Through this programme farmers were supplied with elite seedlings or hybrids of crop and inputs viz., water soluble fertilizers. The drip fertigation system was installed at subsidized rate for demo farmers. Results indicated that drip fertigation increased the crop yields from 30 to 100 per cent over conventional practice besides saving of irrigation water (20 to 50 per cent). Adoption of PF registered water saving to the tune of 20 to 40 % in major crops. Demonstrations conducted by TNAU clearly proved that PF not only increased the productivity of crop but water also.