PEPSEE SYSTEMS: Grassroots' Innovation Under Groundwater Stress Shilp Verma Stanzin Tsephal Tony Jose

Pepsee System of Irrigation

Pepsee system is a low cost alternative of drip irrigation system (DIS). It does not require micro tube or emitter to place water directly to the root zone instead the lateral, which is called pepsee a light- weight plastic pipes used for making ice candy locally called “Pepsee”, is placed directly to the root zone of the plants.

Pepsee and Micro-tube Irrigation System Components Pepsee –PVC Pipe 2 inch –Valve (2 inch) –Filter (optional) –GTO –Jointer –Accessories (include 'L' bow, end cap etc) Micro-tube –PVC Pipe 2 inch –Valve (2 inch) –Filter –GTO –Jointer –Accessories (include 'L' bow,, end cap etc) Lateral (12 mm) and micro tube, (Rs.3,800/acre) Pepsee Straw (Rs. 780/acre)

Context –Rapidly depleting of water table in last two decades –The recurrence of drought like situation –During summer water is available for very less time. –Summer crop is very important for farmer –Latent demand for water saving technologies

Only Rich farmer could afford Drip Micro Tube Still it was beyond the reach of poor farmers Pepsee So, there was great need for same technology at low cost Rs.20,000/acre Rs.7,000/acre 4,000/acre

Objectives To study the Pepsee system, its history and spreadTo study the Pepsee system, its history and spread To make a comparative Technical/Financial study of Pepsee system with Micro-tube/drip and Flood system of irrigationTo make a comparative Technical/Financial study of Pepsee system with Micro-tube/drip and Flood system of irrigation To study the condition and factor that lead to successful adoption of pepsee system.To study the condition and factor that lead to successful adoption of pepsee system. To suggest the social marketing strategy for mass promotion of pepsee system of irrigation.To suggest the social marketing strategy for mass promotion of pepsee system of irrigation.

Methodology Farmer Survey Focus Group Discussion Interviews with Retailers and Manufacturers Participatory Rural Appraisal Farm Management concepts were used to check the financial viability of Micro-tube and Pepsee system of irrigation

Sampling Plan Two Districts were selected purposively on the basis of spread of pepsee West Nimar (Madhya Pradesh) Jalgaon (Maharashtra ) District was divided into four geographical region East,West, South and North Each region was divided into three segments –Pepsee adopters –Micro-tube/Drip adopters –Non-adopters

Sampling Distribution SegmentsWest NimarJalgaonTotal Pepsee adopters30 60 Micro-tube adopters30 60 Non-adopters30 60 Total90 180

Spread of pepsee system

Source of irrigation Pepsee adopterMicro tube adopter Non adopter W JW JW J Open well Tube well Rain fed Canal AVERAGE LAND HOLDING YEILD Adopters and non-adopters Profile Figures are indicated in percentage

Advantages

Disadvantages

Reason for purchase of pepsee

Reasons for not purchasing

Impact of Pepsee systems Cropping pattern –Enable them to take summer crop –Chances for Rabi crops West NimarJalgaon Pepsee adopterNon-adoptersPepsee adopterNon-adopters Crops –Better quality –Higher Yield –Less prone to pest attack

Impact of pepsee systems on pumpage Pepsee used only before monsoon Methods of irrigation Numbers of irrigation Hours of irrigation/acre Total Pepsee system Hrs7.5Hrs Flood system3515Hrs Total notional savings of 7.5 Hrs/acre, before monsoon (50%)

Impact of pepsee systems on area under cultivation Average incremental area under cultivation due to adoption of pepsee is 2.2 acre Impact of pepsee systems on water level Adoption of pepsee system do not save water but it leads to efficient utilization of water However if farmers start using pepsee after rain, then there will be water saving

Cost of Micro-tube

Cost of Pepsee

Financial Analysis IRR (%)NPV (RS.)BCRPBP CostA,B,C Pepsee42,35,185760, 4390, , 1.41, Micro- tube 40,39,289057, 8791, , 1.80, Both Micro-tube and Pepsee is financially feasible Micro tube is financially sounds better than pepsee Financial Indicators of PIS and MIS

Financial analysis why the farmers still adopt pepsee irrigation system when they have choice of micro-tube which technically and financially better than pepsee why micro-tube inspite of the technical and financial feasibility, its large scale and fast adoption is not so encouraging in India

Most Prominent Reasons Drip-irrigated area is not more than one percent. –High initial investment –less access to basic finance –Lack of information Dhawan B D, Drip irrigation, Economic and Political weekly, October, 1999

Supply chain of pepsee PLASTIC WHOLESALER / RETAILERAGRI IMPLEMENTWHOLESALER PLASTIC MANUFACTURER AGRI IMPLEMENT RETAILER FARMER

STRENGTHWEAKNESS Low cost Low initial investment Risk spread over number of years Skill requirement is less Shifting to micro tube and drip is technically feasible Less transportation and storage problem Limited life period & delicate High labour requirement High replacement cost of pepsee Cannot withstand high pressure of flow of water Unequal distribution of water

OPPORTUNITY Scope for improvement Latent demand for water saving Involvement of agencies for replication / spreading Manufacturing process is available everywhere Changes in system of electricity billing THREAT Non standardization in product Non performance of early adopters Decreasing price of micro tube and drip Environmental problems with polythene Easy and soft availability of finance

IDE’s PEPSEE- “EASY DRIP” Involved in pepsee for last one year – trying to create a brand Mainly involved in creating linkages Making standardized product of 125 micron thickness – Black Pepsee (LLDPE) Coming up with combination of micro tube with pepsee which is more effective Focus is on vegetables and spreading into other parts in Maharashtra

Suggestions for IDE Price is the USP of pepsee and attempt to increase the price will seriously affect the adoption The standardization of product is very important IDE focus should be to create volume Preservation of technology with a focus on product development A warranty of pepsee for one crop season during the first year of introduction Field demonstration is a necessity for replicating it new places Early adopters should be progressive farmer but from targeted segment System should be supplied through agricultural implements shop

How we are looking at Pepsee Pepsee is catering to a segment which cannot afford micro tube and drip irrigation, and to the farmers who are aware but not convinced about the potential benefits of micro/drip irrigation.

How we are looking at Pepsee Pepsi system in itself is not a complete substitute for drip / micro tube irrigation, as when the economic condition of farmers improves, he will shift to micro- tube, then to drip, so it could be used as stepping stone and a tool to promote more efficient drip irrigation technologies at large scale in long-run

Thank You!