Question : Micro and Drip Irrigation

(a) whether the Government has started any scheme to promote micro and drip irrigation in areas affected by water scarcity and poor quality of water in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has prepared any other special scheme to deal with drought like situation in several States; and

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the details of the amount allocated for drip irrigation during each of the last three years and the current year, State/Union Territory-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã ??? ????? ?????? ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ À㕾㠽ãâ¨ããè ( SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a) to (d): To promote Micro Irrigation (MI) technologies like drip and sprinkler irrigation systems in the agriculture sector, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Micro Irrigation (MI) was launched in 2005-06. This was up-scaled to National Mission on Micro Irrigation (NMMI) in June 2010, which continued till 2013-14. NMMI was further subsumed under ‘On Farm Water Management’ (OFWM) component of National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) during 2014-15. From 2015-16, MI is being covered under ‘Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)’ component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) which is operational throughout the country. The State/Union Territory wise details of central assistance released under MI during each of the last three years and current year is given at Annexure-I.

Besides promoting MI, the PMKSY- PDMC also supports micro level water storage, water conservation/management activities for drought proofing. The Watershed Development component of PMKSY also supports water conservation & harvesting activities, particularly in rainfed areas for reducing water scarcity issues during drought like situations. Funds from Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) are also used for soil and water conservation activities which contribute for resilience towards drought like situations.

Drought affected States are also supported under National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) in the event of natural calamities including drought.