What is water-use efficiency? Describe the role of micro-irrigation in increasing the water-use efficiency. (Not more than 200 words)

Agriculture is best assessed through its developmental, institutional and implementation dimensions, with equity and resilience as the governing tests.

Water-use efficiency is the useful crop output or biomass obtained per unit of water consumed or diverted. It improves when conveyance, application and crop-use losses are reduced while maintaining yield and quality.

Drip irrigation delivers measured water near roots; sprinkler systems distribute water more uniformly than flood irrigation. Fertigation, soil-moisture sensors, mulching and scheduling can reduce evaporation, runoff and deep percolation, while enabling precision application.

Micro-irrigation raises yields, supports fertigation, reduces weed growth and energy use, and permits cultivation in undulating or water-scarce areas. It is valuable for fruits, vegetables, sugarcane, cotton and other high-value crops, though benefits depend on design and maintenance.

Barriers include capital cost, fragmented holdings, clogging, poor after-sales service and unsuitable electricity or crop incentives. Converge subsidies with watershed planning, quality standards, farmer training, solar pumps with extraction safeguards and water pricing that rewards saving rather than excessive use.

Keywords: agriculture; water management; irrigation; micro-irrigation