Drip Irrigation Market Size, Status and Outlook by 2028

The drip irrigation market is projected to reach US$ 23,313.57 million by 2028 from US$ 9,287.67 million in 2021; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.9% from 2022 to 2028.

Drip irrigation, also known as trickle irrigation, is a type of micro-irrigation that enables water to drip slowly to the roots of plants, preventing the wastage of water and washout of important nutrients. It is an efficient and economical way to water crops. The system comprises emitters, drip tubes, drip lines, filters, valves, and pressure pumps. According to estimates by the University of Rhode Island, drip irrigation is 90% efficient, unlike other irrigation techniques that are only 65–75% efficient. The drip irrigation systems are rapidly growing in dry areas or areas with high water scarcity. Moreover, these systems are widely used in commercial nurseries and farmlands for ensuring low runoff and evaporation. The incorporation of drip irrigation is growing across a wide range of field & forest crops and vegetable & perennial gardens.

Increased plant productivity and improved quality, disease prevention (by minimizing water contact with leaves), reduced weed growth, and decreased labor requirements are among the major benefits of drip irrigation systems that favor their adoption. Emitters are a crucial component of drip irrigation systems as they release water from drip tubing. The availability of drip tubing and emitters in various types and diameters also supports the drip irrigation market expansion. Purpose-built emitters are spaced evenly for row crops or intermittently for trees, shrubs, and perennials. Emitters are designed for the flow rate of 1 Gallon per minute and are widely used for maximum efficiency. Drip irrigation systems provide uninterrupted service as small amounts of water are applied at reduced intervals, either once or twice a day.

Based on component, the drip irrigation market is segmented into emitters, drip tubes/drip lines, filters, valves, pressure pumps, and others. In 2021, the emitters segment led the market with the largest share. Based on emitter type, the drip irrigation market is segmented into inline and online. In 2021, the online segment held a larger market share. Based on application, the drip irrigation market is segmented into agriculture, greenhouse, and others. In 2021, the agriculture segment accounted for the largest share of the market. Based on type, the drip irrigation market is segmented into surface and subsurface. In 2021, the subsurface segment held a larger market share. The drip irrigation market, by geography, is primarily segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), the Middle East & Africa (MEA), and South America (SAM). In 2021, APAC accounted for a significant share of the global drip irrigation market.

Strategic Insights

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Drip Irrigation Market

The COVID-19 pandemic has had complex and far-reaching impact on the global irrigation sector. Drip irrigation companies continued to operate despite challenging circumstances, such as fiscal constraints, supply chain interruptions, and labor shortages. Irrigation remains the prime focus for countries focusing on food security maintenance, production, employment, and climate resilience. The World Bank supports countries with critical investments in irrigation infrastructure and institutional reforms to achieve efficient water usage, thereby meeting sustainable development goals (SDGs). According to the World Bank Group, irrigated agriculture represents 20% of the total cultivated land and contributes 40% to the total food produced worldwide. A broader strategic approach by global irrigation practitioners, focusing on water-smart agriculture, helps agriculturists and farmers bounce back stronger The World Bank, the International Commission on Irrigation & Drainage (ICID), and the 2030 Water Resources Group (2030 WRG) hosted a webinar in May 2020 to examine ways for economic recovery during the pandemic recovery period. Government officials, service providers, private sector representatives, and farmers from Indonesia, Australia, India, Italy, Rwanda, South Africa, Mali, Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Argentina participated in this webinar to discuss the measures they adopted in response to the pandemic. Recent investments have boosted the global irrigation sector and improved the livelihoods of farmers and growers. The construction of the Centenario Channel in Mexico, for instance, provided direct funds to farmers to produce food crops, while also providing employment and infrastructure. . A broader strategic approach by global irrigation practitioners, focusing on water-smart agriculture, helps agriculturists and farmers bounce back stronger.

Lucrative Regions for Drip Irrigation Market

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Market Insights– Drip Irrigation Market

Growing Adoption of Micro-Irrigation for Production of Various Crops

Micro-irrigation involves the application of continuous drips or tiny streams of water on the soil surface. Being the most efficient water application method for crops, the demand for micro-irrigation is growing across large-scale irrigation communities. Rising concerns regarding food security and water scarcity have increased the demand for micro-irrigation systems among crop growers. The direct application of water to the root zone minimizes the losses due to evaporation and percolation. The demand for micro-sprinkler irrigation has surged in Colorado orchards in recent years because of its potential to increase crop yield and efficiency, and decrease labor requirements. This method of irrigation reduces the water usage on orchards by 30% compared to gated pipe and furrow irrigation methodologies.

Surging demand for zero-carbon, technologically advanced micro-irrigation systems that work well in farms of every size, without the need for updates in the existing field infrastructure, is driving the growth of the global drip irrigation market.

Component-Based Insights

Based on component, the drip irrigation market is segmented into emitters, drip tubes/drip lines, filters, valves, pressure pumps, and others. The elevated demand for emitters is attributed to their ability of delivering small volumes of water directly to plant roots, thereby optimizing soil moisture with less water lost to evaporation, runoff, and wind movement. Also, the quality of drip emitters directly affects the reliability of drip irrigation systems and the quality of irrigation water.

Emitter Type-Based Insights

Based on emitter type, the drip irrigation market is bifurcated into inline and online. The inline emitters are usually used for row crops or field crops, such as onion, chili, potato, turmeric, vegetables, sugarcane, and cotton. They are made of superior-quality linear low-density polyethylene. Inline emitters help provide maximum resistance against clogging. These emitters are suitable for surface irrigation and subsurface irrigation.

Application-Based Insights

Based on application, the drip irrigation market is segmented into agriculture, greenhouse, and others. Compared with traditional irrigation approaches, water-saving methods can save up to 20–50% of water resources. An agricultural drip irrigation system can significantly reduce water consumption while ensuring that the soil moisture content is always in a relatively balanced state.

Type-Based Insights

Based on type, the drip irrigation market is segmented into surface and subsurface. The market for the surface segment is growing considerably as it is highly preferred and practiced across areas where waterlogging and other problems are prevalent. Moreover, surface drip irrigation systems offer higher water distribution uniformity (in the root zone) compared to subsurface irrigation. The high cost-efficiency of surface drip irrigation is another important factor driving its popularity across several developed and developing economies.

Players operating in the drip irrigation market are mainly focused on the development of advanced and efficient products.

• In 2022, Hunter partnered with POGO, a turfgrass technology solutions provider.

• In 2022, Irritec plans to open a new branch in Peru to support local agriculture, and promote drip irrigation and fertigation systems.