The Government is making all efforts to enhance water use efficiency at farm level through adoption of micro irrigation in all the States of the Country and so far an area of 137.80 lakh ha has been covered under Micro Irrigation.

 

The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing Per Drop More Crop component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY-PDMC) from 2015-16 in all the States of the Country. The PDMC scheme focuses on enhancing water use efficiency at farm level through Micro Irrigation viz. Drip and Sprinkler irrigation systems.

  

Besides, with the objective of facilitating the States in mobilising resources for expanding coverage of micro irrigation, Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) has been created with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). The major objective of the fund is to facilitate the States in mobilizing the resources for expanding coverage of Micro Irrigation by taking up special and innovative projects and also for incentivising micro irrigation beyond the provisions available under PDMC scheme to encourage farmers to install Micro Irrigation systems.

 

Farmers are encouraged to take advantage of the PDMC scheme by wide publicity through press & print media, publication of leaflets/booklets, organization of workshops, exhibitions, farmer fairs, information on State/Government of India web portals etc. In addition, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) imparts training and organizes field demonstrations through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) to educate farmers for promotion of efficient irrigation techniques/ Micro Irrigation for various crops.

 

The Government provides financial assistance/subsidy @ 55% of the indicative unit cost to Small & Marginal farmers and @45% to Other farmers for encouraging them to install Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation systems under the PDMC scheme to enhance the coverage. In addition, some States provide additional incentives/top up subsidy to reduce farmers’ share for adoption of Micro Irrigation.

This information was given by Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

 

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