Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) for Smart Water Irrigation Management System in Rice Cultivation

In rice cultivation, the AWD technique, a tool called a 'field water tube', can save 20-50% of water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30-50%. The present study, (AWD) practices were conducted in the transplanted paddy growing regions of farmer’s holdings of Tiruvannamalai district during the Kharif season of 2022-23 and 2023-24. The productivity, economics, and water saving data in demonstrated plots were compared with the farmer’s practices (Continuous flooding method). The extension gap, technology gap, and technology index were 12.0q ha-1, 6.0 q ha-1, and 8.57 percent, respectively. The higher gross return of Rs.1,27,991 ha-1, higher net return of Rs.73,980 ha-1, and Benefit-Cost ratio of 1.37 were observed in the demonstrated plot compared to farmers' practices of continuous flooding method. Higher yield and returns due to reduced cost of cultivation, higher grain yield, higher net returns, and higher water saving (24.7%) in the demo plot over the farmer’s practices created greater awareness. They motivated the other farmers to adopt AWD practices in TN IAMP Phase IV Thurinjalar sub-basin farmers of Tiruvannamalai district.