UPSC IAS exam preparation - India Agriculture and related issues - Lecture 3

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System and methods of irrigation

[हिंदी में पढ़ें ]

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1.0 Introduction

Water is the most important input required for plant growth for agriculture production. Irrigation is the replenishment of soil-water storage in plant root zone through methods other than natural precipitation. Irrigation has had its roots in the history of mankind since earliest beginnings. It helps reduce the uncertainties, particularly the climatic uncertainties in agriculture practices.

1.1 History of irrigation

Archaeological investigation has identified evidence of irrigation where the natural rainfall was insufficient to support crops.

Perennial irrigation was practised in the Mesopotamian plain by coaxing water through a matrix of small channels formed in the field. Ancient Egyptians practiced Basin irrigation using the flooding of the Nile to inundate land plots which had been surrounded by dykes. The Ancient Nubians developed a form of irrigation by using a waterwheel-like device called a sakia. In sub-Saharan Africa, irrigation reached the Niger River region cultures and civilizations by the first or second millennium BCE and was based on wet season flooding and water harvesting. The Qanats, developed in ancient Persia in about 800 BCE, are among the oldest known irrigation methods still in use today.

The Indus Valley civilization of ancient India (5000 years ago) was based on agriculture derived from flooded plains of Indus rivers and its tributaries. The first people of this civilization are thought to have reached India from Africa in 40,000 BC. At first they were hunters and gatherers but in 4000 BC they became farmers. They grew wheat, grains, and animals on land. Cows, goats, and sheep gave milk and alternatives. They cooked on hearths and grounded grain into flour by rubbing a rounded stone across on top of a flat stone. Bread, and porridge were part of everybody's diet. They mostly ate veggies and fresh or salted fish. The rich ate meat. The Harappans were the earliest people to grow cotton. Irrigation depended on the irregular flooding of the rivers of Punjab and Sind.

The irrigation works of ancient Sri Lanka, the earliest dating from about 300 BCE, in the reign of King Pandukabhaya and under continuous development for the next thousand years, were one of the most complex irrigation systems of the ancient world. In the Szechwan region belonging to the State of Qin of ancient China, the Dujiangyan Irrigation System was built in 256 BCE to irrigate an enormous area of farmland that today still supplies water. The floodplain of the Santa Cruz River was extensively farmed during the Early Agricultural period, circa 1200 BC to AD 150.

Terrace irrigation is evidenced in pre-Columbian America, early Syria, India and China. History, it is said is the greatest teacher of the mankind. Study of the history of irrigation, development of irrigation technology, sustainability of the old irrigation systems provides an insight into the factors that have sustained the outcomes over the generations.

2.0 Need for irrigation in India

India is a tropical country with great diversity in climate, topography and vegetation. Being an agrarian economy, many resources in India and the economic development of the nation itself depend on agricultural output. For maximum crop productivity it is very essential to supply the optimum quantity of irrigation water at proper timings. Irrigation performs these important functions:

1. acts as nutrient and moisture carrier
2. ensures better utilization of chemical fertilizers
3. maintains optimum temperature around plant environment.

In India, agriculture is still a gamble on the rains. To insulate agriculture from the vagaries of the monsoon irrigation is necessary. The following factors necessitated the development of irrigational facilities in India.

1. Scanty rainfall
2. Non-Uniform rainfall
3. Increasing yield in Dry Farming
4. To practice crop rotation
5. Controlled water supply
6. To wash out or dilute salts in soil
7. To cool the soil and also the atmosphere, and make more favourable environment for healthy plant growth.

Although water is one of India’s most scarce natural resources, India uses 2 to 4 times more water to produce a unit of major food crop than does China and Brazil. Hence, it is imperative that the country focus on improving the efficiency of water use in agriculture. Since independence India has invested numerous resources on irrigation, both public (canal irrigation) and private (tube wells). In both cases the water has been deployed via “flood” irrigation, which is an extremely inefficient use of water.

It is being recognized now that Irrigation investments must shift to adopting technologies like sprinkler and drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting (leveraging labour available under the MGNREGS where possible). In order to facilitate this shift, the new irrigation technologies need to be accorded “infrastructure lending” status (currently accorded to canal irrigation) and both the centre and states need to increase public spending for micro irrigation.

The consolidation of ongoing irrigation schemes – the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) and On Farm Water Management (OFWM) – into the Prime Minister’s Krishi Sinchayi Yojana (PMKSY) offers the possibility of convergence of investments in irrigation, from water source to distribution and end-use. We will study the PMKSY later in this booklet.

A promising way forward, to increase productivity while conserving water (more for less), is to adopt micro irrigation methods. In drip irrigation for example, perforated pipes are placed either above or slightly below ground and drip water on the roots and stems of plants, directing water more precisely to crops that need it. An efficient drip irrigation system reduces consumption of fertiliser (through fertigation) and water lost to evaporation, and higher yields than traditional flood irrigation.

The key bottlenecks in the adoption of this technology are the high initial cost of purchase and the skill required for maintenance. However, the increase in yields and reduction in costs of power and fertilizer use can help farmers recover the fixed cost quickly. Provisions for credit to farmers can incentivise greater adoption of this technology. 

2.1 Problems with excessive irrigation

Just as irrigation is essential for agricultural growth, excessive unscientific irrigation has its ill-effects. The states like Punjab are experiencing ill-effects of excessive irrigation as part of the state is facing very deep water table problem and another part is facing problem of salinity. Proper management of water is necessary for good natural resource management and sustainable yield. The disadvantages of excessive irrigation may be:

1. Wasteful use of water
2. Water logging
3. Soil degradation in irrigated areas
4. Contamination of water with harmful substances
5. Damp climate and Ecological imbalances
6. Mosquito breeding.

3.0 Irrigation Systems

Several systems of irrigation are used depending upon the crops, topography, soil types, water resources, climatic conditions and costs. These systems are:

1. Surface irrigation system
2. Sub-soil irrigation system
3. Sprinkler irrigation system, and
4. Drip irrigation system.

3.1 Surface Irrigation System

In this system, water is directly applied to the surface of the soil from a conveyance system, channel or pipe located at the upper reaches of the field by gravity flow incidental to the slope of the land. There are several methods in this system, the commonest being hand watering, free flooding from a ditch, check flooding basin, border strip and furrow.

For irrigation with the surface system, fields are laid out every time before the crops are sown, since these layouts are destroyed during preparatory tillage. In some instances the same layout may be used for irrigating the subsequent crop. However, the field must be leveled well to achieve a higher water application efficiency.

3.1.1 Hand watering

Water is carried in a bucket or any other container and either poured at the base of the plant or sprinkled or splashed over the foliage of the plant. Individual plants are watered in this way in a small scale garden (home garden, kitchen or nutrition garden, composite garden) or during transplanting of seedlings, saplings, stecklings, cutting of vegetables, flowers, tobacco, perennial fodders etc. This method requires more time but intensive care is taken.

3.1.2 Free or wild flooding

In this method water is allowed to flood the entire field in an uncontrolled way. This method is practised largely where irrigation water is abundant, inexpensive and harmless to the soil and crop. This method is adapted in wet land rice where water may be applied as a continuous flood, rotational flood or as intermittent flood.

Levelling and preparation of impervious bed and boundary bunds on the field layout is necessary. No land area is utilised for water distribution. Supervision of water application may not be required. The main drawback of this method is that a huge quantity of water is lost. All types of field management practices specially the nutrient management practices are very poor. However, for adopting green manuring  practice it is an ideal method as it helps anaerobic decomposition of organic matter.

3.1.3 Check flooding or check basin 

A basin is a flat piece of land surrounded by checks or levees. On essentially level ground the shape and size of basins depend mainly on the soil characteristics, the available stream flow and the cultivation practices. Basins, rectangular or square, with sizes varying from about 10 to 100 sq m or even more are used. The basins are levelled in both directions. A supply ditch is aligned along the highest contour. Individual flat basins are connected one after another with this ditch breaching or by setting portable siphons. After irrigation the breached bank is blocked and patched up or the siphon is removed.

This method is well suited to all irrigable soils and to a variety of crops. Crops, susceptible to complete saturation of the root-zone such as potato, maize tobacco, chillies cannot be irrigated by this method.

Slopes up to two to three per cent can be irrigated by using this method with a good control on irrigation water and high application efficiency. On steeper slopes, this method can be used after proper terracing.

The limitations of this method are that it has too many ridges which occupy a larger area of land and construction and repair of the ridges and careful supervision during irrigation are time consuming and costly.

3.1.4 Basin or ring basin

This method is commonly used for widely spaced crops to irrigate an individual plant or plants grown in pits or pockets. A ring or flat basin is made around the plant and a number of plants or pockets are connected with a ditch passing between rows of plants. The soil around the plant is soaked with irrigation water and not the entire field. This method considerably economizes water. Crops, such as sweet gourd, pumpkin and ash gourd are irrigated by this method. This is a very common method of irrigation to orchard crops.

3.1.5 Border Strip 

In this method the field is divided into a number of long narrow strips, with small parallel ridges on the sides. The strips are 2m to 10 m wide. The length of a strip ranges from 10m to 300 m or more depending upon the slope and flow size. Individual strips are levelled perfectly and connected with the supply ditch laid out at the upper elevation. After irrigation these are disconnected.

This method is suited well to all irrigable soils, to closely spaced row crops and to pasture crops which can tolerate saturated soil conditions for an hour or so. Wheat, barley, rape and mustard, peas, beans, grams, nurseries of rice and onion are irrigated by this method. Slopes up to seven per cent can be irrigated when the pasture crops are grown. On steeper slopes, this method can be used by proper terracing or trenching along the contours to avoid the shifting of soil. For laying out border strips, the land needs to be graded uniformly to achieve a high application efficiency of water. Repair of ridges and supervision during irrigation are needed.

3.1.6 Furrow method

In row crops, furrows are made between the two crop ridges. Water is applied to the furrows and the top of the ridge is not directly wetted. The furrows can be made along the slope when the level of the land is sloping gently up to three per cent. When the slope exceeds three per cent and is up to about 15 per cent, the furrows are laid out on graded contours or as cross-slope furrows. Water distribution can be controlled well to achieve uniform application and the consequent high efficiency. The lengths of the furrows vary with the soil type, the slope and the quantity of water to be applied. The depth of the furrow should be such that water movement within the soil is predominantly horizontal into the plant root-zone.

3.2 Sub-soil or Sub-surface Irrigation System

In the subsoil irrigation system, water is applied into a series of field ditches deep down up to the impervious layer. It first moves laterally and then vertically through capillaries and saturates the root-zone. A continuous supply of moisture in the crop root-zone is, thus, assured from the artificial water-table conditions created by the pond of irrigation water on the impervious layer. 

In artificial sub-irrigation, perforated or porous pipes are laid underground in the vicinity of the root-zone and water under pressure is distributed through these pipes. An impervious sub-soil at a depth of two metres or more, highly permeable loam or sandy-loam surface soil, uniform topographic conditions and moderate slopes favor sub-irrigation. Under such conditions proper water control to prevent alkali accumulation or excess water logging usually results in the economical use of water, high crop yields, and low labour cost in irrigation.

3.3 Sprinkler or Overhead Irrigation System

In this system water is applied to the surface of any crop or soil in the form of a thin spray from above. A typical sprinkler system consists of a pump to lift and convey water under pressure, pipes or tubing for the conveyance of water and sprinkler heads or nozzles and risers which connect the sprinkler heads with a pipe line. Based on the equipments with which spraying is done, the sprinkler system has been classified as the rotating head type and the perforated head type. The sprinkler system is also classified on the basis of portability of equipment as (i) portable, (ii) semiportable, and (iii) stationary or permanent. There are self-propelled sprinkler systems which move laterally or radially around a central pivot feeding-line. This portable system can be designed to cover any area ranging from three to four hectares to fifty to sixty hectares.

In aerosolic system, nutrient solutions are sprinkled over the foliage in a regulated way. In mist chambers, phytotron and rhizotron irrigation is provided as aerosol droplets by sprinkling.

This method is advantageous, as water can be applied at a controlled rate and a uniform distribution and high efficiency can be ensured. This method can be adopted in the case of almost all crops and is very popular in the case of cash and some orchard crops and in all types or nurseries. This system is specially suited to shallow sandy soils of uneven topography, where levelling is not practicable, and in areas where water and labour are scarce. On some soils with salinity problems, this system is advocated for the leaching of salt more effectively and for emergence and to secure the quicker and better growth of plants. The pesticides including herbicides and fertilisers have also been applied successfully by adopting this system. The sprinkler system is also used for cooling the crop during high temperatures and for frost control during freezing temperatures.

In temperate and humid climates evaporation loss from a spray is much the same as the loss from open water in surface irrigation; but in hot, dry climates evaporative loss can be excessive during the summer months and night irrigation alone is advisable. In less extreme arid conditions, high precipitation rates and sprinklers with large drop sizes solve the problem if they can be tolerated by crop and soil.

3.4 Drip or Trickle Irrigation System

This system involves the slow application of water, drop by drop, to the root-zone of a crop. 

 

The equipment consists of a pumping unit to create a pressure of about 2.5 kg/sq cm, pipelines which may be of PVC tubing with drip type nozzles or emitters, and a filter unit to remove the suspended impurities in the water. The amount of water dripping from the nozzles can be regulated, as desired, by varying the pressure at the nozzles, and the size of the orifice of the nozzles. Water may be lifted and distributed through overhead pipe lines which are fitted with nipples to drop or trickle water to the desirable site or water may be held at a certain height from where it passes to the orifice which is impregnated into the root-zone. Water supply may be continuous or intermittent. In this method water is used very economically, since losses due to deep percolation and surface evaporation are reduced to the minimum. This method is, therefore, very suited to arid regions. The successful growing of orchards even on saline soils has been made possible by the drip system of irrigation. The system can be used for applying fertilisers in solution.

The initial high cost of the equipment and its maintenance are the major limitations of this system. However, it may be cheaper than the sprinkler system, especially for orchards and other widely spaced crops. Porous pitchers may be inserted near the pit or the pocket or base of the plant. The pitcher is then filled with water and covered with a lid and sealed temporarily. Water that comes out of the pitcher irrigates the root-zone of the crop. The pitcher is then refilled. Pitcher irrigation is the most important and easy method of applying water in arid and semi-arid zones with light soil and wide spaced crops such as cucurbits or orchards. The same pitcher may be installed for three to five times of seasonal cropping.

3.5 Other methods

There are some more methods of irrigation -

Fertigation: When fertiliser is diluted with irrigation water and applied to the soil. In water culture or hydroponic or hyponical nutrients in suitable proportion as per the requirement of crop are dissolved in water and slow flow is maintained to supply water and nutrient to the crop.

Organic irrigation: Liquid manure from livestock housing are processed, diluted and applied as irrigation water to a number of crops including forage crops.

Irrigation with sewage effluent: The liquid part of the sewage from municipal or industrial wastes are specially treated and diluted before irrigation. This practice not only reduces the hazards of pollution but also helps in recycling of organic wastes and water to convert into wealth.

4.0 Water Resources of India

Water is our most precious resource. It is, however, limited and unequally distributed. With the rapid growth of population, industrialization and urbanization, the demand for water is increasing at a faster pace. The Ministry of Water Resources lays down policies and programmes for the development, regulation and judicious utilization of water resources. The average annual water availability of the country is assessed as 1869 billion cubic metres (BCM). Of this, total utilizable water resources assessed as 1123 BCM, surface water 690 BCM and groundwater 433 BCM. 

Canals: Canals are one of the oldest most important sources of irrigation in India. Canal irrigation is however, largely confined to the Great Plains of India (Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal) and the fertile plains of India (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odhisha and Tamil Nadu). The Bari Doab Canal, Bhakhra Canal, Indira Gandhi Canal, Eastern and Western Yamuna Canals,The Ganga Canal, Agra and Sharda Canals are some of the important irrigation systems of India. The canal irrigation has transformed certain areas of the Thar Desert into fertile green areas in the Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area. 

4.1 Merits of Canal Irrigation 

1. Canals are a perennial source of irrigation 
2. Canals are a cheap source of irrigation 
3. Canals carry a lot of sediments which enrich the fertility of the irrigated fields.
4. Canals make agriculture sustainable
5. Canals help in the control of floods during the rainy season 

4.2 Demerits of Canal Irrigation 

1. Overuse and misuse of canal water. 
2. Over irrigation leads to water logging 
3. Excessive irrigation leads to rise in underground water table 
4. Many canals over flow during the rainy season 
5. Canal irrigation is possible only in the plain area 
6. Water-logged areas become the breeding grounds for mosquitoes
7. In the semi-arid area canal irrigation lead to the problem of usar (kallar) formation 

5.0 Wells and Tube Wells

Wells and tube wells irrigate the largest cropped area of the country. About 54 per cent of the total irrigated area is under tube well and well irrigation. Tube well irrigation is extensively developed in Northern Plains of India. About 95% of the tube wells are located in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and Odisha

5.1 Merits of Tubewell Irrigation 

1. Tube wells can be installed in a short period of time
2. Tube wells can be installed at convenient places by the government and farmers.
3. Tube wells can be installed at low cost.
4. Tube well is an independent source of irrigation.
5. Tube wells can be used as and when the necessity arises.
6. The tube well water contains several minerals and salts (e.g. nitrate, sulphate, etc) which enhance the fertility of soil.

5.2 Demerits of Tubewell Irrigation

1. Only limited area can be irrigated by tube wells.
2. The underground water table diminishes, especially during the summer season.
3. In the case of failure of monsoon, the underground water table falls and enough water is not available for irrigation of crops.
4. Since tube wells and pumping sets are operated with electricity and diesel, it is considered as an expensive mode of irrigation.

6.0 Tanks

Tank irrigation is generally practiced in the eastern part of the Deccan Plateau where the topography is suitable for erecting dams across small rivulets and for the collection of water in artificial lakes.

Tanks are found in large number in the districts of Chengalpattu, North Arcot, South Arcot in Tamil Nadu and Nellore and Warangal districts in Andhra Pradesh. The other states where they are prevalent to lesser extent are Odisha, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

6.1 Irrigation Potential

With sustained and systematic development, irrigation potential has increased from 22.6 million hectares in 1951. Since April 1978, irrigation projects have been classified on the basis of their command area:

Major: More than 10,000 hectares

Medium: 2000-10,000 hectares

Minor: Less than 2000 hectares

Minor irrigation projects are widely distributed and they provide instant and reliable sources of irrigation to the farmers. Ground water development which forms bulk of the minor irrigation programme is implemented primarily through the individual and co-operative efforts. According to a recent study conducted by the World Bank about 20% of the 40 million hectare of irrigated agricultural land in India is reported to suffer from water logging and salinity problems which have reduced the yield of crops substantially.

Expansion of irrigation facilities, along with consolidation of the existing systems, has been the main part of the core strategy for increasing production of food with sustainable and systematic development of irrigation gains. The irrigation potential through major, medium and minor irrigation projects has increased from 22.6 million hectares (mha) in 1951 consistently.

7.0 The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) 

What it is

Indian agriculture persistently faces various bottlenecks. A major one is the problem related to irrigation facilities, which inevitably hampers growth. At present more than half of crop lands lack irrigation and farmers depend on the June to September south-west monsoon for growing Kharif crops such as paddy (rice), pulses, oilseeds and cotton.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by PM Mr Modi, in July 2015, approved the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) to overcome the dependency of agriculture farming on rainfall/monsoons. A budget of Rs 50,000 crores has been allotted to it for 2015-2020 period. The contribution of states will be over and above this sum. In addition to this scheme, the cabinet also separately approved the creation of a national agricultural market through an electronic platform to provide farmers and traders with access to opportunities for purchase and sale of agri-commodities in a transparent manner.

PMKSY aims at amalgamation of ongoing schemes. These are -

1. The Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) of Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR,RD&GR)
2. The Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) of Department of Land Resources (DoLR) under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD)
3. The On Farm Water Management (OFWM) component of National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) of Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC). 

The PMKSY is approved for implementation across the country with an outlay of Rs. 50,000 crore in five years with an outlay of Rs.5300 crore for 2015-16. The central assistance will be based on utilisation by the State Government in different years in coming five years. If required, total allocation for this scheme will be enhanced to meet the requirement of the State Governments, so that objective of providing Har Khet Ko Pani and More Crop Per Drop could be achieved. 

The scheme will also promote precision-irrigation technologies, enhance recharge of aquifers and introduce sustainable water conservation practices. When the Modi government came into power in May 2014, it was hoped that a quick turnaround will happen. Unfortunately, the rain Gods did not shower their blessings as expected. Upon completion of one year, this was a list of the government's achievements, which had to be quickly recalibrated and scaled up (through PMKSY) in order to contain the raging fires of rural distress due to a combination of many reasons.

Why did the problem worsen

At present most Indian farmers are dependent on the annual monsoon to grow their summer crops, even while they struggle to get a fair price for their produce due to rigidities in the market that prevent a fair price discovery. There is no single national market, and a large share of the fair price of crops goes to middlemen in the Mandis across the nation.

A combination of factors-neglect of investments in agriculture, drought-like situation for two years, followed by unseasonal rains, the end of the global commodity super cycle and a cutback in development programmes had created a situation of rural distress for India.

Experts from the Niti Aayog and NIAEPR (National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research) feel that the decision to increase funding on irrigation projects will substantially increase crop productivity and revive growth in the agriculture sector that is plummeting. We must remember that 2013-14 witnessed a record production of 265 MMT foodgrains and 19.25 MMT pulses, and thereafter it reduced in 2014-15 to just 252 MMT foodgrains and 17.15 MMT pulses. For a demographic profile like India's, this is bad news. 

According to current estimates, out of the 142 million hectares of agricultural land in India, only about 45 per cent has any arrangement for artificial irrigation. The rest of the agricultural farm is dependent solely on rainfall for its water needs. A delay in rainfall or a failure spells disaster for the farmers and shortfall in crop is the subsequent worry faced by the people. The government hopes that an additional 6 lakh hectares of agricultural land can be brought under irrigation, to begin with in the first year itself. Apart from this, 5 lakh hectares of land will also receive the benefits of drip irrigation as a result. Micro-irrigation projects ("Har Khet Ko Pani") and end-to-end irrigation solutions will be the key focus of this scheme.

The scheme shall also assume responsibility for various irrigation projects that were poorly implemented by previous governments despite adequacy of funds. These projects shall be improved based on strict quality guidelines. About 1,300 watershed projects that have remained in limbo shall now be completed.

Objectives of PMKSY

India is primarily an agricultural economy, with 60% plus population depending on it directly or indirectly. India is also a leading producer of numerous crops, and a major exporter. We have one of the highest percent of arable land in the world. Despite several efforts in past decades, a large percent of agriculture area is still dependent on the monsoons. When they fail, Indian farmers face hardships of survival. 

The major objective of PMKSY is 

1. to achieve convergence of investments in irrigation at the field level
2. to expand cultivable area under assured irrigation
3. to improve on-farm water use efficiency to reduce wastage of water
4. to enhance the adoption of precision-irrigation and other water saving technologies (More crop per drop)
5. to enhance recharge of aquifers and introduce sustainable water conservation practices by exploring the feasibility of reusing treated municipal waste water for peri-urban agriculture, and 
6. to attract greater private investment in precision irrigation system. 

The scheme also aims at bringing the Ministries/Departments/Agencies/Research & Financial Institutions concerned, engaged in creation/use/recycling/potential recycling of water brought under a common platform so that a comprehensive and holistic view of entire "water cycle" is taken into account & proper water budgeting is done for all sectors viz. household, agriculture & industries. 

Programmes under PMKSY

Under PMKSY, the programmes being run by three Ministries are being amalgamated for better output and management. These are -

1. The Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) of Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR,RD&GR) This Ministry is to undertake various measures for completion of ongoing projects of Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), besides construction of diversion canals, field channels, water diversion/lift irrigation, including development of water distribution systems at an allocation of Rs. 2000 crore during 2015-16.
2. The Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) of Department of Land Resources (DoLR) under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) MoRD is to mainly undertake rain water conservation, farm pond, water harvesting structure, small check dams and contour bunding etc. under Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP). During 2015-16, an amount of Rs. 1500 crore has been allocated to DoLR, MoRD.
3. The On Farm Water Management (OFWM) component of National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) of Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC).  Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation is to undertake activities like rainwater conservation, runoff control structures, water harvesting structures etc. including measures to augment ground water. Besides, DAC is promoting, crop diversification and ensures crop water budgeting for more crop per drop. Crop development, farm forestry, pasture development and other livelihood support interventions will be undertaken for increasing farmers' income. For improving water use efficiency and to assure irrigation to agricultural farm (Her Khet Ko Pani) larger area under micro irrigation systems(drip, sprinkler and raingun etc.) is to be promoted. During 2015-16 an amount of Rs. 1800 crore has been allocated for this purpose.

While formulating the District Irrigation Plans (DIPs), suggestions of MPs and MLAs are to be duly considered and included in DIPs. Highest priority will be given to those.

Targeted area for 2015-16 under PMKSY and break up

An amount of Rs. 5300 crore was allocated for 2015-16. Under this, it was envisaged to provide the following

Irrigation water to about 13.4 lakh hectare area which included 

1. 1.2 lakh hectare under AIBP
2. 0.3 lakh hectare area through surface minor irrigation
3. 2 lakh hectare area under Command Area Development Water Management
4. 0.3 lakh hectare through Ground water
5. 0.2 lakh hectare through Repair Renovation Restoration (RRR) of water bodies
6. 5 lakh hectare area under Micro Irrigation, and 
7. 4.4 lakh hectare area under Integrated Watershed Management Programme. 

System for integration and effective implementation of the programme

• MKSY is to be implemented on projectised mode of implementation. 
• Programme architecture is to adopt a 'decentralized State level planning and projectised execution' structure that empowers States to draw up their own irrigation development plans based on District Irrigation Plan (DIP). 
• A committee under the chairmanship of District Magistrate with members from Departments concerned, including district Forest officer, Lead Bank Officer etc. at district level is empowered to finalise the DIP. 
• Similarly, State Irrigation Plan (SIP) will be amalgamation of DIPs for operative convergence platform for all water sector activities including drinking water & sanitation, application of science & technology etc. through comprehensive SIP.  
• State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) chaired by the Chief Secretary of the respective States are authorized to sanction projects, oversee its implementation and monitoring.  
• National Executive Committee (NEC) is constituted under the Chairmanship of Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog to oversee programme implementation, allocation of resources, inter-ministerial coordination, monitoring & performance assessment, addressing administrative issues.  
• At National level, programme is to be supervised and monitored by an Inter-Ministerial National Steering Committee (NSC) under the PM with Union Ministers concerned Ministries as a members.  
• Guidelines of the PMKSY for effective implementation and monitoring etc. is formulated with active consultation of concerned Department/Ministries will be issued over the approval of Minister of Agriculture.

Thus, if the programme succeeds, it will attract investments in irrigation system at field level, develop and expand cultivable land in the country, enhance ranch water use in order to minimize wastage of water, enhance crop per drop by implementing water-saving technologies and precision irrigation. It will also bring ministries, offices, organizations, research and financial institutions occupied with creation and recycling of water under one platform so that a holistic outlook of the whole water cycle is considered. The goal is to open the doors for optimal water budgeting in all sectors.

Initial progress

Prioritization of Projects was done. The NITI Aayog and Ministry of Water Resources, RD&GR have jointly prioritised 46 major and medium irrigation projects for completion by 2019-20. These projects will create 18.62 lakh ha of irrigation potential with an investment of Centre share of about Rs.20,000 crore. Out of this 23 projects have been targeted for completion in 2016-17 which will require central share of Rs. 7949 crore to create irrigation potential of 7.17 lakh ha.

The NRSC launched page on PMKSY integrating relevant layers. 

It can be seen here - http://bhuvan-staging.nrsc.gov.in/events2/forest/pmksy.php 

e NAM

In addition to the ambitious PMKSY, the national electronic market (eNAM) will aid recovery in a big way. The electronic platform will be an indirect route to ensure better prices for farmers through non-price factors by increasing connectivity, competition and reducing price spreads in different agricultural markets. The goal of the e-marketing platform will be to reform agricultural marketing, improve access to markets and transparent price discovery for farmers. It would also increase farmers' access to markets through warehouse-based sales and thus obviate the need to transport his produce to the mandi (wholesale markets).

The central sector scheme for promotion of the national common market will be set up through the Agri-Tech Infrastructure Fund with a budget of Rs.200 crore. The target is to bring 585 regulated wholesale markets across the country on board the electronic platform in the next three years. 250 markets will come under the e-platform in 2015-16, another 200 in 2016-17 and 135 in 2017-18. For integration with the national e-platform, states will have to reform existing markets by giving a single licence that will be valid across the state, a single-point levy of market fee and provision for electronic auction for price discovery. This, the government hopes, will provide better prices to farmers, improve the agriculture supply chain and reduce wastage.

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