Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayee Yojana is a national mission launched in 2015 by the Government of India with an investment of 50,000 crores (US$ 7.7 billion). It aims to develop irrigation sources to provide a permanent solution to drought. It has the motto “Har Khet Ko Paani.”
The aim of this mission is to increase the area under cultivation while ensuring irrigation, improving water usage efficiency, and reducing water wastage.
The PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana focuses on creating sources of guaranteed and protected irrigation by utilizing “Jal Sinchan” and “Jal Sanchay.” Aside from this, subsidies are used to encourage micro-irrigation in order to guarantee “Per drop-More crop.”
The PMKSY Yojana was formed by combining several existing programs. This includes:
- Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program of the Ministry of Water Resources (AIBP).
- River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (RD&GR).
- Integrated Watershed Management Program (IWMP).
- On Farm Water Management (OFWM).
Objectives of the Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayee Yojana
- Improve the physical accessibility of water on the farm and expand the cultivated area under assured irrigation (Har Khet ko Pani).
- Water source, distribution, and efficient usage are all integrated to make the best use of water through appropriate technology and practices.
- Achieve Convergence of irrigation investments at the field level (preparation of district level and, if required, sub-district level water use plans).
- Improve the efficiency of on-farm water use to reduce wastage and increase availability in both duration and extent.
- Promote the use of water-saving technologies, such as precise irrigation (More crop per drop).
- Enhance aquifer recharge and implement sustainable water conservation practices.
- Assure the integrated development of rainfed areas using the watershed approach to soil and water conservation, groundwater regeneration, runoff prevention, offering livelihood possibilities, and other NRM activities.
- Encourage farmers and local field workers to participate in extension programs on water harvesting, water management, and crop alignment.
- The viability of utilizing treated municipal wastewater for peri-urban agriculture should be explored.
- Increase private investment in irrigation.
Benefits of the Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayee Yojana
- Water Saving & Water Use Efficiency (WUE)
- Fewer Energy Costs
- Efficient & Flexible
- Higher fertilizer-use efficiency (FUE)
- Reduced Labour Costs
- Higher Profits
- Reduce Soil Loss
- Marginal Soils & Water
- Improved Crop Quality
- Higher Yields
Key Developments
- A mobile application with information on the work being done under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Scheme was launched in October 2020 by the Union Minister of State for Waterpower and Social Justice and Empowerment.
- The Assam state government launched the Kisan Rath (fruits and vegetables) mobile application in October 2020 to facilitate the timely selling of agricultural products by promoting the buyer-seller network.
Investments
- The Maharashtra state government allocated Rs. 400 crores (US$ 53.37 million) in March 2021 for various irrigation development corporations to complete various irrigation projects under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana and Baliraja Sanjeevani Yojana.
- In February 2021, the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Ministry declared a plan to spend half of the Rs. 131,531 crores (US$ 17.55 billion) budget allocation on the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana for the financial year 2021-22.
- The Union Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare approved subsidized loans of Rs. 3,971.31 crores (US$ 529.93 million) for the implementation of micro-irrigation projects in November 2020.
- The Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmer’s Welfare announced an allocation of Rs. 4,000 crores (Rs. 533.76 million) to the state government in June 2020 to implement the ‘Per Drop More Crop’ component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana for the fiscal year 2020-21.
Scheme Components of Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayee Yojana
1. Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP)
The AIBP was established in 1996 by the central government to assist major and medium-sized irrigation projects in India. The objective was to accelerate the implementation of projects that were beyond the resource capability of states. The AIBP became a part of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana in 2015. The program includes 99 projects with total funding of Rs. 77,595 crores (US$ 10.35 billion).
2. Command Area Development & Water Management Programme (CAD&WM)
The Command Area Development & Water Management Program’s major objective is to enhance the use of newly created irrigation potential and improve agricultural productivity and production through a coordinated, integrated approach involving multidisciplinary teams. The program is restricted to the 99 projects prioritized under the AIBP.
3. Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI)
Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) initiatives with irrigation potential of fewer than 2,000 hectares are included in the AIBP for giving central assistance. The initiative has been extended to cover drought-prone areas, flood-prone areas, left-wing extremists, and the Odisha districts of Koraput, Bolangir, and Kalahandi (KBK).
4. Repair, Renovation & Restoration (RRR) Programme
Tanks, ponds, and lakes play a vital role in conserving water in India to meet the various needs of communities. In 2005, the Ministry of Water Resources introduced the Repair, Renovation, and Restoration (RRR) initiative for water bodies. The initiative has covered 3,341 water bodies at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,309.16 crores (US$ 174.69 million).
5. Har Khet ko Pani
The Har Khet ko Pani initiative includes the development of new water sources through minor irrigation repair, restoration, and renovation of water bodies, the construction of rainwater harvesting structures (Jal Sanchay), the strengthening of the carrying capacity of traditional water sources, the improvement of water management and distribution systems, and groundwater development.
6. Per Drop More Crop
The Per Drop More Crop initiative includes promoting efficient water conveyance and precision water application devices in farms such as drips, sprinklers, pivots, and rain guns, building micro irrigation structures to supplement source creation activities such as tube wells and dug wells, installing water lifting devices such as electric/diesel/solar pump sets, awareness campaigns and building capacity training including low-cost publications, and empowering extension work.
7. Watershed Development
It includes runoff water management and also improved soil and moisture conservation activities such as rainfall harvesting, ridge area treatment, drainage line treatment, in-situ moisture conservation, and other watershed-based activities.
