Page 62 - Azerbaijan State University of Economics

THE JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC SCIENCES: THEORY AND PRACTICE

Water Saving Potential of Alternative Irrigation Technologies
The investment cost for each system and estimated water savings

using the indexed water use approach in Region A are presented in a
matrix form in Table 7. Shifting all of the current irrigated acres under

furrow to LESA will save 207,132 acre-feet each year due to the use of
more efficient irrigation technology. Converting current irrigated acres

under furrow and MESA to LESA, the annual water saving is estimated
at 209,423 acre-feet. This indicates that by adopting LESA, a more

efficient irrigation technology, 10.486 MAF can be saved over the next

50 years. Annual water savings of 302,186 acre-feet can be achieved by
converting current irrigated acres under furrow, MESA, and LESA to

LEPA. Similarly, 326,174 acre-feet of water can be saved if current

irrigated acres under furrow, MESA, LESA and LEPA were converted to
drip. However, additional water saving of 23,988 acre-feet per annum

with an additional investment of $458.80 per acre does not appear
economically feasible.

The water savings estimate by shifting from less efficient to more
efficient irrigation distribution system based on equal water use

approach and the investment cost for each irrigation system in Region A

are presented in a matrix form in Table 8. Shifting 304,666 furrow
irrigated acres to MESA results in water savings of 121,274 acre-feet

each year and 6.063 MAF over the next 50 years. By shifting irrigated
acres under furrow and MESA to LESA annual water saving is estimated

at 171,458 acre-feet and 8.573 MAF for next 50 years planning period.
Similarly, shifting all irrigated acres under furrow, MESA, and LESA to

LEPA could save 258,330 acre-feet of water annually and 12.966 MAF

over the next 50 years. Converting 1,218,644 acres to drip irrigation

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