About
- Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was launched in 2015 with the goal of enhancing access to water for farming, expanding the cultivable area under assured irrigation, improving water use efficiency, and promoting sustainable water conservation practices.
- It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (Core Scheme), where Centre- States share will be 75:25 .
- In the case of the north-eastern region and hilly states, the share will be 90:10.
- In 2020, the Ministry of Jal Shakti launched a mobile application for Geo-Tagging of the components of projects under PMKSY.
Objectives
- Achieve convergence of investments in irrigation at the field level (preparation of district level and, if required, sub district level water use plans).
- Enhance the physical access of water on the farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation (Har Khet ko pani).
- Integration of water source, distribution and its efficient use, to make best use of water through appropriate technologies and practices.
- Improve on – farm water use efficiency to reduce wastage and increase availability both in duration and extent.
- Enhance 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, regeneration of groundwater, arresting runoff, providing livelihood options and other NRM activities.
- Promote extension activities relating to water harvesting, water management and crop alignment for farmers and grass root level field functionaries.
- Explore the feasibility of reusing treated municipal wastewater for peri – urban agriculture.
Components
- Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP): It was launched in 1996 with the aim of accelerating the implementation of irrigation projects that exceed the resource capabilities of states.
- To date, 53 projects have been completed under PMKSY-AIBP, generating an additional irrigation potential of 25.14 lakh hectares.
- Har Khet ko Pani (HKKP): It aims to create new water sources through Minor Irrigation. Repair, restoration and renovation of water bodies, strengthening carrying capacity of traditional water sources, constructing rain water harvesting structures.
- It has sub components: Command Area Development (CAD), Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI), Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies, Ground Water Development.
- Watershed Development: It is the effective management of runoff water and improved soil & moisture conservation activities such as ridge area treatment, drainage line 5 treatment, rain water harvesting, in – situ moisture conservation and other allied activities o n watershed basis.
Formulation
It was formulated by amalgamating following schemes:
- Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) – Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (now Ministry of Jal Shakti).
- Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) – Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development.
- On-Farm Water Management (OFWM) – Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC).
Implementation
Decentralized implementation through State Irrigation Plan and District Irrigation Plan.
Farmer-Friendly Initiatives Under PMKSY
Under PMKSY, several farmer-friendly initiatives have been introduced to address the challenges faced by Indian farmers. Some of these initiatives include:
- Micro-Irrigation: PMKSY promotes micro-irrigation systems such as drip and sprinkler irrigation. These systems help in conserving water, improving crop yield, and reducing input costs.
- Per Drop More Crop: The “Per Drop More Crop” component focuses on optimizing water use efficiency in agriculture. It encourages farmers to adopt water-saving techniques and technologies to maximize crop production with minimal water resources.
- Watershed Development: Watershed development activities under PMKSY aim to improve soil and water conservation, leading to better crop production and reduced soil erosion.
- Promotion of Organic Farming: PMKSY encourages the adoption of organic farming practices. It supports the certification of organic produce and helps farmers transition to chemical-free farming methods.
- Extension Services: The scheme includes providing extension services to farmers, offering them valuable knowledge on the latest agricultural practices, crop management, and new technologies.
- Crop Insurance: PMKSY includes a crop insurance component to safeguard farmers against crop loss due to natural calamities, pests, or diseases.
- Market Linkage: The scheme facilitates market linkages for farmers, helping them connect with markets and get fair prices for their produce.
- Soil Health Card: PMKSY promotes the issuance of Soil Health Cards, which provide farmers with information about the health of their soil, nutrient requirements, and appropriate fertilization practices.
- Farm Mechanization: The scheme promotes farm mechanization by providing subsidies for purchasing agricultural machinery and equipment.
- Farmers’ Training and Capacity Building: PMKSY invests in training and capacity building for farmers, enabling them to adopt modern and sustainable farming practices.
- Diversification of Crops: The program encourages crop diversification, which reduces the risk of crop failure and enhances farmers’ economic stability.
- Reduced Post-Harvest Losses: Initiatives under PMKSY aim to reduce post-harvest losses by improving storage and transportation facilities, ensuring farmers get better produce value.
