The Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare implemented the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) in the Country from the year 2015-16 to 2021-22 as a component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). From the year 2022-23, the scheme is being implemented under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). PDMC scheme focuses on enhancing water use efficiency at farm level through Micro Irrigation, namely, Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation systems.

Financial Assistance @ 55% for Small & Marginal farmers and @ 45% for other farmers is provided by the Government for installation of Micro Irrigation under the Scheme. In addition, some States provide additional incentives/top up subsidy for encouraging farmers to adopt Micro Irrigation.

Further, 25% higher unit cost is taken into consideration for calculation of subsidy for the North Eastern and Himalayan states and 15% higher for States with low penetration of Micro Irrigation for larger adoption of Micro Irrigation systems by the farmers under the PDMC scheme.

Farmers are encouraged to take advantage of the PDMC scheme by giving wide publicity to the scheme through press & print media, publication of leaflets/booklets, organization of workshops, exhibitions, farmer fairs, information on State/Government of India web portals etc.

To facilitate the States in mobilising resources for expanding coverage of micro irrigation, Government of India has created Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) with initial corpus of Rs. 5000 Crore. States can avail loan from MIF for taking up special and innovative projects for expanding coverage of Micro Irrigation and also for incentivising micro irrigation beyond the provisions available under PDMC scheme to encourage farmers. Government of India provides interest subvention @3% on the loan availed by the States which is met from PDMC Scheme.

An area of 83.06 lakh hectare has been covered under Micro Irrigation in the Country under PDMC from 2015-16 to 2023-24(till date). State-wise details and percentage of coverage is given at Annexure I.

The Indian Council of Agricultural  Research (ICAR) has developed cost effective, location specific scientific technologies viz. rainwater harvesting and recycling, multiple use of water, conjunctive use of rain, surface and groundwater resources, smart and precision technologies for irrigation and farming practices, optimum irrigation scheduling, resource conservation technologies, development of land drainage and reclamation of problem soils to enhance irrigation water efficiency and water productivity thereby promoting sustainable agriculture and increasing income of farmers.

An area of 30.55 lakh hectare has been covered under Micro Irrigation in the Country through PDMC scheme during the last three years. The Micro Irrigation helps in water saving as well as reduced fertilizer usage through fertigation, labour expenses, other input costs and overall income enhancement of farmers. Recent evaluation studies of the scheme have reiterated that Micro Irrigation is relevant in achieving national priorities such as improving on-farm water use efficiency, enhancing crop productivity etc.

An amount of Rs. 18714.69 crore has been released as Central Assistance to the States under PDMC Scheme from 2015-16 till date. State- wise details are given in Annexure II

This information was given by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Arjun Munda in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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