Lok Sabha Question No. 1598 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-20
Subject: Compulsory Drip Irrigation
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dharambir Singh

O.I.H.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1598

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 20 TH  SEPTEMBER, 2020

## COMPULSORY DRIP IRRIGATION

1598      SHRI DHARAMBIR SINGH:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to make drip irrigation compulsory considering the scarcity of water;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the fresh steps taken by the Government to provide required training to the farmers regarding drip irrigation and provide infrastructure?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) to (c):  Government is taking  all steps including crop diversification, crop planning as per the  agro climatic zones, improved agronomic practices, agri mechanisation and support for infrastructure for drip and sprinkler irrigation to improve water use efficiency.

PMKSY-PDMC is being implemented since 2015-16 under which financial assistance @ 55% for small and marginal farmers and 45% for other farmers is provided for installation of  Drip  and  Sprinkler  systems.  In  addition,  some  States  provide  top-up  subsidy  for encouraging farmers to adopt Micro Irrigation.

Under  PMKSY-  PDMC,  Central  Assistance  of  Rs.  11985.85  crore  was  released  to States during the period of 2015-16 to 2019-20 and an amount of Rs. 4000.00 crore (BE) is allocated for the current year. An area of 47.92 lakh ha (Drip 25.82 lakh ha & Sprinkler 22.10 lakh ha) has been covered under Micro Irrigation in the country since 2015-16.

…..contd…2/-

Micro  Irrigation  Fund  (MIF)  with  a  corpus  of  Rs.  5000  crore  has  been  created  with NABARD 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 PMKSY-PDMC.

Under the Command Area Development and Water Management Programme (CADWM)  Scheme  operated  by  the  Department  of  Water  Resources,  River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD &GR), financial assistance is given to the States for  creation  of  Micro  irrigation  infrastructure  in  the  canal  irrigated  commands.    It  is provisioned  in  the  scheme  that  micro-irrigation  shall  cover  at  least  10%  of  the  targeted Culturable Command Area (CCA) of the Project.

Awareness  among  the  farmers  on  benefits  of  Micro  Irrigation  is  taken  up  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.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) organizes demonstrations and training programmes on water use efficiency including micro irrigation through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) to educate farmers. To intensify this activity, Micro Irrigation demonstration units have been  established  under  190  KVKs  suitable  to  the  average  farm  holding  and  crops  of  the concerned districts for demonstration and training to the farmers.  During 2019-20, the KVKs organised  1308  training  programmes/demonstrations  on  the  Micro  Irrigation  benefitting 58078  farmers.  In  addition,  the  ICAR-Indian  Institute  of  Water  Management  (IIWM), Bhubaneswar through the Centres of All India Coordinated Research Projects on Irrigation Water  Management  located  at  various  State  Agricultural  Universities  (SAUs)  is  providing training  to  educate  farmers  on  efficient  irrigation  techniques  including  drip  irrigation  for various crops.

The Ministry of Jal Shakti also organises conferences as well as trainings of various stake holders including Water Users Associations (WUAs) for promoting micro- irrigation and Participatory Irrigation Management.

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