The reasons for irrigation are wide and varied and differ for each situation. For example irrigation;
- Provides greater certainty with production than is possible with dryland farming.
- Provides options for diversification or intensification.
- Allows farmers to grow more pasture and increase
livestock production.
- Allows farmers to maintain pasture quality over a critical
dry period.
- Ensures crops are not affected by moisture stress at critical growing times.
- Provides greater opportunity to gain a pasture / crop response to fertiliser application.
Although irrigation has many benefits, whether to irrigate or not is generally an economic decision. For irrigation to be sustainable, the benefits must increase income sufficiently to cover the costs of development and provide an acceptable return on investment.
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