Lok Sabha Question No. 1884 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-01
Subject: Area of Arable Land
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Sunil Dattatray Tatkare

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1884

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 01 st  AUGUST, 2023

## AREA OF ARABLE LAND

1884. SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE क ृ षि एवं षकसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  total  area  of  arable  land  in  the  country  along  with  the  irrigated  and unirrigated cultivable land thereof especially in Maharashtra;
- (b) the constraints faced by the Government while increasing the area of irrigated land in the country;
- (c) whether the Government has any action plan to increase the area of irrigated cultivable land in the country especially in Maharashtra; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ षि एवं षकसान कल्याण मंत्री (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) :  As per Land Use Statistics at a Glance 2011-12 to 2020-21 (latest available), the details of Arable land, Net Area Sown, Net Irrigated Area and Net Un-irrigated Area at all India level and in the State of Maharashtra during the year 2020-21 are given below.

(in thousand hectare)

| State/ UT    |   Agri. Land/Culti-vable land/Cultur-able land/Arable land |   Net Sown Area |   Net Irrigated Area |   Net Un- Irrigated Area |
|--------------|------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|----------------------|--------------------------|
| Maharashtra* |                                                      20509 |           16650 |                 3114 |                    13536 |
| All India    |                                                     180266 |          141544 |                77729 |                    63815 |

(b)  to  (d):  Agriculture  is  a  State  Subject.  However,  Government  of  India  supports  and facilitates  the  State  Governments  for  increasing  the  area  under  irrigation  in  the  country through following Centrally Sponsored and Central Sector Schemes.

(1) Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was launched during 2015-16 with an aim to enhance physical access of water on farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation, introduce sustainable water conservation practices, improve onfarm water use efficiency, etc. Under PMKSY-Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP),  during  the  year  2016-17,  ninety-nine  (99)  on-going  major/medium  irrigation projects  in  the  country  were  prioritised  in  consultation  with  States  for  completion  in phases. The funds sanctioned under PMKSY-AIBP during 2016-17 to 2022-23 in the country  is  Rs.14054.94  crore,  out  of  which  Rs.2265.76  crore  is  sanctioned  for Maharashtra. The irrigation  potential  created  under  this  scheme  is  2511.18  thousand hectare in the country, out of which 345.33 thousand hectare is in the Maharashtra. The extension  of  PMKSY  for  the  period  2021-22  to  2025-26  has  been  approved  by Government of India with the following targets:

i.  AIBP including Command Area Development and Watershed Management  (CAD&WM): Completion  of  60  ongoing  AIBP,  85  ongoing CAD&WM major/ medium projects and inclusion of more projects for funding under AIBP has been targeted. Additionally, funding of two National projects, namely Lakhwar and Renuka projects has also been approved. Creation of 13.88 lakh hectare irrigation potential under AIBP and 30.23 lakh cultivable command area coverage under CAD&WM has been envisaged for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26.

ii.  PMKSY-Har  Khet  Ko  Pani  (HKKP): Creation  of  3.7  lakh  hectare  of irrigation potential  and taking up new projects to create 0.8 lakh hectare of irrigation  potential  for  coverage  through  surface minor  irrigation and  repair, renovation and restoration of water bodies has been approved for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26.

iii.  PMKSY-Watershed  Development  Component  (WD): Completion  of sanctioned projects covering 49.5 lakh hectare rainfed/ degraded lands under watershed development component of PMKSY, along with 2.5 lakh hectare additional area to be brought under protective irrigation, has been approved for implementation for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26.

Further, 6 more projects have been included under PMKSY-AIBP from 2021-22 onwards. Besides  above  projects,  Central  Assistance  is  also  being  provided  for  few  Special  / National  Projects  namely  Renukaji,  Lakhwar,  Shahpur  Kandi,    Polavaram  National Projects and Relining of Rajasthan Feeder and Sirhind Feeder of Punjab under PMKSYAIBP.

(2) Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) Scheme which focuses on enhancing water use efficiency at farm level through Micro Irrigation namely Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation systems. Central Assistance released under PDMC scheme for Maharashtra during 2022-23 was Rs.334.00 crore, which led to 1.28 lakh hectare of land coverage under micro irrigation.

(3) Govt.  of  India  has  also  approved  a  Special  Package  for  Maharashtra,  which provides Central Assistance to complete 83 Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) projects and 8 Major / Medium Irrigation Projects in drought prone districts in Vidarbha, Marathwada and rest  of  Maharashtra.  During  2018-19  to  2022-23,  an  irrigation  potential  of  1.65  lakh hectare has been created through Special Package for Maharashtra.

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