(a) the total number and percentage of farmers in the country who are dependent on water reservoirs for irrigating their agricultural land;
(b) whether the Government proposes to provide any assistance to such farmers; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a): As per Agriculture Census 2000-01, out of 108.14 million operational
holdings in the country, the number of operational holdings which received
irrigation from different sources like canals, tanks, wells, tubewells etc was
52.58 million. The number of holdings irrigated by canals was 13.66 million
i.e. 13%. The above mentioned figures do not include information relating to
Bihar, Jharkhand and Meghalaya where Census could not be conducted.
(b) & (c): Central assistance is provided to the State Governments by the
Ministry of Water Resources under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme and
Command Area Development and Water Management Programme.