Effect of increased water supply on net returns to dairy farms in Sonsonate, El Salvador

One important group of users of any supplemental water would be about 34 dairy farmers who rely entirely on pastures in their operations. To better understand the benefits of improved water management on the irrigated pastures in question, a cost/returns survey was made in the summer and fall of 1971. This study reports an analysis of the survey results. The survey team was composed of an agricultural economics student from Utah State University, a staff economist from DGORD, and enumerators for the local office of Mejoramiento de Ganaderia. These survey data have been shared by the subgroups. U.S.U. is primarily interested in economic returns to on-farm irrigation and water management. Thirty-one of the 34 dairy farmers were sampled and 27 questionnaires were usable. The dairy farms vary in size from 20 to 950 manzanas and show considerable variation in annual net returns.