The study investigated water conservation in agriculture in China's Tianshan District. They looked at how using modern irrigation methods affected water use. Results showed that despite adopting efficient drip irrigation, water use for farming increased by 115% over 20 years – a "backfire effect". In the region, the southern area had a higher increase than the north. The shift to drip irrigation boosted productivity but didn't lower water usage per area. Factors like the extent of water-saving methods, changes in cultivated land, crop types, and higher yields influenced water consumption differences. The findings suggest that while modern techniques make farming more productive, they may not always reduce water use as expected.