Why in news?
Recently, the union government has approved the extension of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna for another five years till 2026.
What is it?
- Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana was launched on 1st July, 2015. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with the motto of “Har Khet Ko Paani”. Under the scheme the Centre- States share is 75:25 per cent. For north-eastern region and hilly states, it is 90:10.
- It is under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It is an inter-ministerial scheme that has been formulated by combining ongoing schemes namely,
- Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program (AIBP) – Ministry of Water Resources.
- Integrated Watershed Management Program (IWMP) – Ministry of Rural Development.
- Farm Water Management Project of the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture.
Objectives-
- Achieve convergence of investments in irrigation at the field level.
- It aims for the enhancement of physical access on the farm and to expand the cultivable areas under assured irrigation.
- Integration of water source, distribution and its efficient/ effective use and to make best use of water through appropriate and practices technologies.
- Improve on – farm water use efficiency to reduce wastage and increase availability.
- Improve the adoption of precision irrigation and other water saving technologies (More crop per drop).
- Enhance recharge of aquifers and introduce sustainable water conservation practices.
- Ensure the integrated development of rainfed areas using the watershed approach towards soil and water conservation, arresting runoff, regeneration of ground water, providing livelihood options.
- Promote extension activities relating to water harvesting, water management and crop alignment for farmers and grass root level field functionaries.
Components of PMKSY-
Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) – It aims to provide financial support to irrigation projects. The inclusion criteria under the programme have been relaxed for projects under tribal and drought-prone areas.
Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP) – It aims to the enhance of physical access on the farm and to the expand of cultivable areas under assured irrigation.
- In this programme, Surface minor irrigation and repair-renovation-restoration of water bodies components are targeted to provide irrigation.
- Enhanced central assistance from 25% to 60% in the general area for rejuvenation of water bodies is provided.
- For 2021-22, The Ground Water component of Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP) was approved provisionally.
- Four sub-components are-
- Ground Water Development
- Command Area Development,
- Surface Minor Irrigation,
- Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies.
- Both AIBP and HKKP are implemented by the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.
Watershed Development-
- Watershed Development is implemented by the Department of Land Resources.
- It focuses on the development of rainfed areas with improved soil and water conservation, regeneration of groundwater, effective management of runoff and promoting extension activities related to water harvesting and management.
- It has the specific provision for the development of spring sheds.
Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) – PDMC is implemented by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
- Promoting efficient water conveyance and precision water application devices like drips, sprinklers, rain-guns in the fams (Jal Sinchan).
- Construction of Micro irrigation structures to supplement source creation activities including tube wells and dug wells.
- The Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) is with NABARD under PMKSY.
Advantages of Micro Irrigation-
- High Water Saving and Water Use Efficiency.
- Energy cost is less. o Higher Profits.
- Higher fertilizer-use efficiency.
- Reduced labour expenditure.
- Less soil loss.
- Improved crop quality.
- Higher yields.