Impact of adoption of water-saving technologies on irrigation water use efficiency at the farm household level

【Objective】Improving irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) is essential for sustainable agricultural development, especially in water-scarce regions. This paper examines how the application of water-saving technologies influences the IWUE of wheat production at the farm household level.【Method】Based on survey data collected from 512 farm households across key agricultural areas in Henan, Shandong, and Hebei provinces, we evaluated the impact of various water-saving technologies, including drip irrigation, sprinkler systems, canal lining, and field leveling, on IWUE. An econometric model was used to characterize household attributes such as land size, crop types, and access to services. Propensity score matching and an instrumental variable approach were employed to address potential selection bias and endogeneity.【Result】The average IWUE among the sampled farmers was 78.23%, which is significantly lower than the overall technical efficiency in wheat production. This suggests that, under current conditions, farmers could save an average of 21.71% of irrigation water by enhancing their IWUE. Compared to overall wheat production efficiency, IWUE exhibited greater variation among farmers. The adoption of water-saving technologies had a significant positive effect on IWUE, with its contribution ranking third after regional differences (as captured by the provincial dummy variable) and water pricing. Our results also revealed a ‘Matthew effect’: farmers with already high IWUE benefited more from technology adoption, achieving notable improvements, whereas those with low baseline IWUE experienced relatively smaller gains. Furthermore, higher agricultural water prices were associated with more efficient water use, indicating that economic incentives play a crucial role. Regional differences in infrastructure, training, and support also moderated the impact of technology adoption.【Conclusion】 Improving IWUE requires a multi-pronged approach. Local and provincial governments should invest in water-saving infrastructure and provide targeted training and support for households with low IWUE. Additionally, rationalizing agricultural water pricing and establishing a well-designed water rights system alongside market-based mechanisms can incentivize water conservation. These strategies, collectively, are key to enhancing the adoption of water-saving technologies and improving irrigation water use efficiency in wheat production.