The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, in short PMKSY, was introduced mainly to improve farm productivity in India. The PMKSY also ensures that all our country’s resources should be utilised in the best way possible.
Currently active, the PMKSY scheme was launched on the 1st of July in 2015 under the honourable Mr Narendra Modi’s government with a Motto of “Har Khet Ko Paani” and “More Crop Per Drop”. A budget of Rs 2600 crore rupees was fixed for this scheme. The ministries in charge of this scheme are the Jal Shakti Mantralaya, the Ministry of Rural Development, and the Ministry of Agriculture.
Attracting field-level investments in the irrigation systems, the enhancement of ranch water use so that water wastage is minimised. The expansion and development of cultivable land in the country, the enhancement of crop per drop by implementing technologies that save water, and, lastly, bringing precision in irrigation are the primary purposes of the PMKSY scheme.
The scheme also aims at collectively bringing on the ministries, organisations, financial institutions, etc., that have to take the initiative in creating and recycling water under a single platform so that a full-scale outlook of the complete water cycle is considered. The scheme targets optimal water budgeting in every sector of the country’s agricultural system.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Scheme
● Make a water use plan if required at the district and sub-district levels. Achieving investment convergence at the field level in irrigation.
● Another target is to make the optimum use of water through its proper distribution, efficient use, and irrigation. These practices may include appropriate technologies required to do so.
● Under assured irrigation, the expansion of cultivable land, and the enhancement of physical access to water is also a motto of the scheme.
● The scheme guides the more efficient use of farm water so that the wastage is reduced and there is an increase in the availability of water duration.
● It also enhances the recharge of aquifers by introducing sustainable water conservation practices.
● The scheme also mentions achieving precision in irrigation.
● PMKSY also explores the advantages of reusing treated municipal wastewater for peri-urban agriculture.
● It encourages the farmers to take part in activities such as water management, water harvesting, and crop alignment.
● Using a watershed approach toward water and soil conservation, providing livelihood options, arresting runoff, regeneration of groundwater, and other NRM
activities, the integrated development of the rainfed areas must be ensured under this scheme.
What are the benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana?
The benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana program include: ● 60 lakh hectares would be covered under this scheme, out of which 21 lakh hectares would be irrigated, and 40 lakh hectares would be protected from drought.
● It will help farmers increase their income by up to Rs 10,000 per acre per season over five years. The scheme is expected to increase agricultural production by up to 7% in five years.
● Farmers can save money on fertilisers, pesticides, and seeds, as well as on diesel used for irrigation pumps. With this amount saved, farmers can invest in better farming practices such as mechanisation or improve productivity through improved soil fertility using new technologies like biotechnology or genetically modified crops.
Who are eligible for the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai scheme?
The criteria for eligibility include:
● A minimum family income of Rs 10,000 per month.
● A minimum land holding of 1 hectare (2.47 acres).
● The land must be irrigated with an irrigation system approved by the Indian Government’s Ministry of Agriculture.
● The land must be under a permanent lease agreement with a farmer who has been cultivating it for at least five years before applying for a loan under this scheme.
● Farmers of any division or class are eligible for Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana.
● The farmers must own the land to avail maximum benefit of the scheme. ● People who belong to Self-help organisations (SHOs), groups of producer farmers, and cooperative trust societies can participate in the scheme after Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana registration.
● Farmers who work and cultivate on rented/leased land can also go for Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana registration.
● Only Indian citizens can apply for the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. How to apply for the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchi Yojana?
● There is no specific way to get the benefits under this scheme directly by you as the central government allocates PMKSY funds to the state, and it depends upon how the state implements all the benefits under the plans.
● To avail PMKSY, a state needs to prepare The District Irrigation Plans (DIP) and SIP ( state Irrigation Plan, expenditure for developing water resources for the agriculture sector not less than baseline expenditure, the expectation of the initial years, etc.
● After the sanction of the plan by the respective departments, the PMKSY fund will be given to the state government per the guidelines of centrally sponsored schemes designed by the Ministry of Finance and NITI Aayog.
● As you can see, how and in what way you will get the benefits entirely depends upon how the state government plans to implement it. In some state governments like Odisha and Bihar, you can apply their scheme online via their respective websites by creating your account, filling out the respective form, and uploading relevant documents.
● As for people who live in different states, you should contact your nearest municipal office or panchayat office and seek their help in applying under this scheme.
What are the documents required for the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchi Scheme?
● Caste certificate and Aadhar Card of yours.
● Proof of address where you have been living for the past ten years. ● State Domicile certificate
● Your mobile number and passport-size photos.
● Papers of your agricultural land
● Your bank account passbook
What are the components of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana?
AIBP Program: Major focus is on completing ongoing Medium and Major Irrigation Projects and National Projects as quickly as possible.
Har khet ko pani: To develop and revitalise water storage systems in viable sites, such as Eri, Ooranis (T.N.), Katas, Bandhas (Odisha and M.P.), Dongs (Assam), Khatri, Kuhl (H.P.), Jal Mandir (Gujarat), Zabo (Nagaland), etc., we must first lift irrigation from rivers/water bodies at lower elevations for supplementing demands beyond MGNREGS and IWMP regardless of irrigation command. Precision/micro irrigation should cover 10% of the command area.
Creating and strengthening a distribution network from the source to the farm will also be necessary to use the available supply that isn’t being used to its full potential. A command centre will be needed to provide information on crop cultivation patterns in different areas so appropriate measures can be taken for water storage development in future years. Water bodies should be repaired, renovated, and restored; rainfall-gathering structures (Jal Sanchay) should be built, and traditional water sources’ carrying capacity should be strengthened.
Per Drop More Crop-Micro Irrigation(MI) and Per Drop More Crop-Other Interventions (SWMA): Extension operations are to be extended to encourage scientific moisture conservation and agronomic strategies such as crop alignment to make the most of available water. This includes reducing the need for irrigation (Jal Sanrakshan) and rainwater harvesting.
Pump sets are used to move water from one point to another. This can be done by pumping water from a source, such as a river or a lake, to a destination, such as a city. Pumping is also used in the construction of pipelines to transport water. Watershed: Water harvesting structures such as Nala bunds, agricultural ponds, check dams, and tanks.
Staggered trenching, land levelling, mulching, field bunding, contour trenching/bundling, and other methods of effective rainfall management.
Entry point activities: afforestation, ridge area treatment, nursery raising, horticulture, pasture development.
Capacity building: production system (including crop scheduling and planting), drainage line treatment for the assets. Microenterprises for marginal and small farmers. Convergence with MGNREGA: In the past, the irrigation sector has been neglected due to a lack of investment and funding. The government has now taken up this task by focusing on building micro-irrigation structures in areas where water is accessible and development is not critical or overexploited.
The government has also taken initiatives to boost input costs for civil construction projects under MGNREGS, notably the outflow, distribution system, silt traps, lining intake, etc.
In the farm sector, effective water transport and precise water application equipment such as pivots, rain guns, drips, and sprinklers are promoted (Jal Sinchan). The government has also approved the yearly action plan for irrigation programs, including the creation of district/state irrigation plans, among other things. How can you log in to the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana?
1. First, go to the official website of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana portal
2. Go to the ‘Login’ option
3. Enter your User Id, password, and captcha to log in to your account. 4. After filling out the credentials, you can access your account by clicking the login button.
Conclusion
Micro-irrigation is a proven technology that has gained popularity among farmers in India. A strong push and appropriate fund allocation towards the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana has helped the government realise a target coverage of 10 million hectares in the next five years.
Additionally, the government has also set up an online portal for the entire process execution and visibility, encouraging more investments by prospective competitors.