Economic efficiency of drip and flood irrigation. Comparative analysis at farm scale using DEA

In recent decades, there has been a massive replacement of flood irrigation with drip irrigation throughout the world. Numerous studies have been published on the efficiency of these techniques in terms of water savings, but few works have paid attention to their economic efficiency at farm scale. In this research, a two-stage methodology has been used for this purpose, developed in three irrigated areas of the region of Valencia (Eastern Spain). In the first stage, interviews were conducted with experts from irrigation communities and cooperatives, and in the second stage, an efficiency analysis was carried out using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). It is concluded that, although the cultivation costs of drip irrigation are lower and the technology gap (TGR K ) is smaller than flood irrigation, there is much room for improvement. Policies to promote the installation of localised irrigation should include complementary measures to ensure the viability of modernised farms. • Data envelopment analysis has been used to evaluate differences in crop efficiency with different irrigation techniques. • In general, cultivation costs are lower and efficiency is higher in drip-irrigated plantations. • There are many possibilities for improvement in crops irrigated with drip irrigation.