Lok Sabha Question No. 3456 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-24
Subject: Research on Sustainable Irrigation
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Sunita Duggal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3456

ANSWERED ON 24.03.2022

## RESEARCH ON SUSTAINABLE IRRIGATION

## 3456.  SHRIMATI SUNITA DUGGAL

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to conduct research and analysis to study sustainable irrigation practices, especially in places that face water scarcity;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to recommend irrigation methods like drip irrigation as sustainable practice to farmers; and
- (d)  if  so,  the  steps  taken  to  ensure  availability  of  relevant  resources  to  ensure  feasibility  in  implementing  the same?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

(a) & (b) The National Water Policy 2012 emphasizes promotion of research and advancement in technology to  address  issues  in  the  water  sector  in  a  scientific  manner.  Further,  irrigation  and  water  management  are identified  as  priority  areas  for  research  to  be  undertaken  under  the  scheme  of  the  Department  of  Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR,RD&GR) titled 'Research and Development Programme in Water Sector and Implementation of National Water Mission'.  The Central water Commission (CWC) had conducted Water  Use  Efficiency  (WUE)  studies  various  major  and  medium  irrigation  projects during 10th & 11th Five Year Plans.  These studies have suggested various corrective interventions to improve the water use efficiency of the projects to achieve better water management. National Water Mission has also awarded baseline studies to various institutions for evaluating water use efficiency of the various operational major/medium irrigation projects.

(c)  &  (d)  Micro-irrigation  related  activities  are  implemented  by  DoWR,RD&GR  under  its  Command  Area Development & Water Management (CADWM) program.  The program has been brought under the Pradhan Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana  (PMKSY)  from  2015-16  onwards,  with  funding  being  provided  to  the  99 prioritized Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) projects.

Under the programme, it is mandatory to develop 10% of the balance Cultivable Command Area (CCA) using micro irrigation (drip/sprinkler).

The  installation  of  drip/sprinkler  set  at  farm  level  are  arranged  by  farmers  themselves  or  through  financial assistance which can obtained under the 'Per Drop More Crop' component of PMKSY being implemented by Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare (DoA&FW) operational from 2015-16 in the country.

'Sahi Fasal' campaign was launched by National Water Mission in November 2019 to nudge farmers in the water  stressed  areas  to  grow  crops  which  are  not  water  intensive,  but  use  water  very  efficiently,  and  are economically remunerative, are healthy and nutritious; suited to the agro-climatic-hydro characteristics of the area,  and  are  environmentally  friendly.  Creating  awareness  among  farmers  on  appropriate  crops,  microirrigation, soil moisture conservation etc, weaning them away from water intensive crops like paddy, sugarcane etc. to crops like corn, maize etc which require less water, assisting policy makers to frame policies that make effective pricing of inputs (water and electricity), improve procurement and market for these alternate crops, create appropriate storage them etc ultimately leading to increase in the income of farmers are the key elements of 'Sahi Fasal'

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