‘Per Drop More Crop’ plan proving a hit, measures to micro irrigation emphasized in workshop

Leading states in micro-irrigation shared their practices and innovative methods being followed for enhancing the micro-irrigation coverage and their popularity among farmers.

A national workshop organized on 'Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)' discussed various effective measures and approaches to micro irrigation in the country. Recognising the need of PDMC, the stakeholders brainstormed as to how to efficiently use water for different agricultural purposes. In the wake of continuous reduction in the water sources, it has become essential to judiciously use water resources. In the workshop, a few measures did come up, which were focussed to be adopted for increasing penetration of micro irrigation in various parts of the country.

Water productivity of agriculture
The participants emphasized on adoption of technologies in implementation of the programmes and focused on approaches for enhancing micro-irrigation coverage. They emphasized a few measures to increase overall efficiency and water productivity of agriculture for ensuring food and nutrition security of the country and incomes of the farmers, particularly in rainfed areas. 

Micro-irrigation on a large scale 
All participants were urged to make efforts for adoption of micro-irrigation on a large scale for reducing the water footprint of the agriculture sector. The Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) Scheme was detailed to the participants. They were also made aware of the progress made so far in this regard. 

Drip and Sprinkler irrigation systems
It was also informed that Department of Agriculture, Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing this centrally sponsored scheme of Per Drop More Crop from  2015-16 in all the states, which focuses on enhancing water use efficiency at farm level through Micro Irrigation like 'Drip and Sprinkler irrigation systems'. 

78 lakh hectare under micro Irrigation
The participants were informed by the government that an area of 78 lakh hectare has been covered under micro Irrigation from 2015-16 to till date, which is about 81% more than the area covered during pre-PDMC 8 years. 

Micro Irrigation Fund
The Government of India has been focusing on increasing water productivity in agriculture and thereby sustainable agriculture and incomes of farmers. A Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) with a corpus of Rs. 5000 crore has been created with NABARD during 2018-19 with major objective to facilitate the states in mobilizing the resources to provide top up or additional incentives to farmers for incentivising micro irrigation beyond the provisions available under Per Drop More Crop as well as innovative integrated projects including projects in the Public Private Partnership (PPP) for expanding micro-irrigation. 

Budget announcement 
A budget announcement has also been made to double the initial corpus of Micro Irrigation Fund under NABARD, by augmenting it by another Rs. 5,000 crores. During the programme, five Best Gram Panchayats from states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu were recognised for their efforts in high micro-irrigation adoption and best practices in water management sector. 

In additiion, leading states in micro-irrigation shared their practices and innovative methods being followed for enhancing the micro-irrigation coverage and their popularity among farmers. 

Leading experts from the Ministry of Jal Shakti also flagged the need and strategies to cover micro-irrigation in irrigated commands. They also emphasized the effectiveness of micro-irrigation in ground water management and sustenance. The representative from NABARD elaborated on various financing options available for expanding micro-irrigation in the country. Micro Irrigation industry members expressed their active support for the efforts being made by the Government in this national priority programme.

The workshop had participants from various ministries and departments of Central Government, states and UT’s, irrigation industries, startups working in water management sector and farmers producer organizations.