PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana
Table of Contents
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Introduction
Currently in India agriculture is the main source of income in the Indian economy as 60% of the population is still engaged in the agricultural sector, and the primary sector will contribute around 20% to India's GDP for FY 2020-21, in that primary sector, 14% will be contributed by agriculture sector to India's GDP. In some areas, rainfall in the Indian subcontinent is unpredictable, so the PMKSY scheme may help mainly in the irrigation aspect in this regard.
In the Indian subcontinent, about 60 percent of irrigated land is not properly utilized for agricultural forms. The scheme can provide a solution to combat drought through the implementation of decentralized fresh programs and project plans at the state level, and execution from the district/block level to the village level. So Government of India is promoting and giving high priority to water conservation and its management, Government of India has launched the PMKSY scheme, and to get this success, this scheme develops innovative ideas in the agricultural sector with a major focus on "Water for every farm (Har Khet Ko Pani)" and "More Crops Per Drop".
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs [CCEA] chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the Pradhan Mantri Singhai Yojana [PMKSY] on 15 July 2015. PMKSY is a centrally-sponsored scheme, which means that the share between the central and state states is 75:25 percent, and in the case of northeastern and hill states, the share between the center and the states is 90:10. The scheme was launched with a vision to benefit about 22 lakh farmers in the entire country comprising more than 2.5 lakh scheduled castes and nearly two lakh scheduled tribe farmers.
The government of India has approved the PMKSY scheme with an expense of fifty thousand crores for a period of 5 years from 2015-16 to 2019-20 to spend and invest in the irrigation fields at the rural level to promote agriculture sector. PMKSY primarily focuses on creating assets for profitable irrigation systems, in addition, it also plans to develop an irrigation system by harnessing rainwater at a micro level through "Jal Sanchai" and "Jal Sinchan". PMKSY is one of the most needed programs to combat drought and get benefited from agriculture, Under this scheme, the Government of India is planning a method of interlinking rivers based on geographical factors to prevent floods and droughts in the country.
The government of India has established Krishi Vigyan Kendras or Agriculture Science Centres in every district of the country to educate the farmers in the field of agriculture. Micro irrigation is a part of the PMKSY scheme which ensures subsidies to farmers to produce more crops per drop. Tamil Nadu State tops the all-India level for micro-irrigation under PMKSY followed by Karnataka and Gujarat states. On the other hand, Karnataka tops the cumulative total coverage of micro-irrigation in agricultural fields from 2015 to 2020, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu at the fourth position.
Implementation of PMKSY
The PMKSY scheme is implemented with a decentralized 3-tier structure :
1) National Steering Committee (NSC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) are at the central level.
2) State Level Sanction Committee (SLSC) at the state level.
3) District Level Implementation Committee (DLIC) at the district level.
PMKSY's National Steering Committee (NSC) chaired by the Prime Minister provides directions for the program framework and The National Executive Committee (NEC) is chaired by the Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog and oversees the implementation of the program. Agriculture Departments in the state act as the nodal offices for the implementation of the PMKVY scheme at the state level. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by the Prime Minister approved the implementation of PMKSY for the period 2021 to 2026.
Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Rural Development is the ministry known for the implementation of the PMKVY scheme. The scheme operates on an annual allocation basis, which means that states are allocated more funds in the irrigation sector based on eligibility criteria. The government of India has approved Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program (AIBP), Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP), and Watershed Development for four years till 2025-26 to implement PMKSY.
The scheme was designed by combining other existing schemes like Integrated Watershed Management Program (IWMP) and On Farm Water Management (OFWM). The Government of India has also provided soil health cards to farmers to assess soil productivity and its value for several crops. PMKSY is implemented in any region by adopting decentralized plans at the state level and implementing projects for a period of 5 to 7 years based on the district/block level. In 2020, the Ministry of Jal Shakti launched a mobile application for geo-tagging parts of projects under PMKSY.
Objectives of PMKSY :
☆ It promotes innovative activities related to water harvesting and water management through field application devices such as underground piping, rain guns, pivots, drip, and sprinklers.
☆ It plans farmer-oriented activities such as training, exploratory visits, farm schools, agricultural skill development programs, and efficient water management and also creates awareness regarding agricultural practices through mass media campaigns, exhibitions of agricultural products, short animation films, monthly magazines, and TV or radio programs to create awareness among farmers.
☆ Its objective is to improve the usage of water efficiency in irrigation land by reducing water wastage.
☆ It aims to use a creative strategy that the utilization of water with accuracy will result in "more crops per drop".
☆ It encourages more private investment in precision irrigation systems.
☆ It focuses on the development of rainfed areas using a watershed approach through soil-water conservation, groundwater regeneration, and runoff prevention.
☆ It aims to improve groundwater recharge by using scientific moisture conservation and run-off control measures.
☆ Its main objective is to plan a proper budget for all sectors that require water consumption and ensure that budget allocation is done holistically.
☆ It guides farmers to participate in community farming through farmer-producer groups that have registered organizations or NGOs.
☆ Its other objective is to promote urban farming through water conservation practices in cities and recycling of urban wastewater to refill aquifers for reuse in urban agriculture.
Public Bodies Involved in the PMKSY
☆ Ministry of Agriculture: Precision irrigation systems, Micro-Irrigation, Drip Irrigation, sprinklers, Pivots, and Rain Gun supply.
☆ Ministry of Rural Development: Digging of Ponds, Rainwater harvesting, and construction of Check Dams.
☆ Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR RD & GR): Lift Irrigation, construction of Canals and Channels.
☆ National Steering Committee (NSC): An inter-ministerial committee, chaired by the Prime Minister, oversees the program at the national level.
☆ National Executive Committee (NEC): Chaired by NITI Aayog's Vice-Chairman, Coordinates the inter-ministerial and Addressing administrative section.
☆ State Level Sanction Committee (SLSC): Agriculture Departments act as nodal offices and Perform national assessments for PMKSY.
☆ District Level Implementation Committee (DLIC): Undertakes district-level monitoring assessments and oversees the implementation of PMKSY.
Components of PMKSY
Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program (AIBP) :
AIBP was launched in 1996 to expedite the process of implementation of irrigation projects beyond the resource capacities of states. All implementations by AIBP are observed under the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Jal Shakti. It focuses on the implementation and speedy completion of ongoing as well as new Major and medium irrigation national projects. It provides financial assistance to irrigation projects that come under tribal and drought-prone areas.
Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP) :
Sub-components of HKKP are the Command Area Development Programme (CADP), Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI), Repair, Renovation & Restoration of Water Bodies (RRR). Establishing and rejuvenating traditional water storage systems like Kuhl irrigation (Himachal Pradesh), Eri Ooranis (Tamil Nadu), Jal Mandirs, or step-wells (Gujarat), Dongs (Assam), Zabo (Nagaland), katas, Mundas, and Bandhas in Odisha and Madhya Pradesh. It aims to build new water bodies(in both surface and groundwater) for minor irrigation purposes and install rainwater harvesting structures.
Where there is abundant groundwater, agricultural crop production is abundant, so it creates many sinks that store runoff or flood water during the peak rainy season. It aims to cover at least 10 percent of the command area through micro irrigation under the Command Area Development Program (CADP). It aims to divert water from various areas where abundant water resources are available through lift irrigation from nearby water bodies or rivers and interlinking of plenty of rivers With scarce rivers.
Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) :
Improving the efficiency of water usage through various initiatives like precision water applications such as sprinklers, pivots, and rain guns; Implementation of micro irrigation structures through tube wells and dug wells. It focuses on the implementation of farmer welfare and oversees the Department of Agriculture. Micro Irrigation Fund with a corpus was operationalized in NABARD under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), Government of India is the Nodal Ministry.
It focuses on the construction of capacity buildings and secondary storage systems, promoting scientific moisture conservation and agricultural economic measures, and providing training and awareness campaigns. NeGP-A aims to achieve rapid development in India through the use of Information & Communication Technology (ICT) for timely access to agriculture-related information for all farmers and use in the field of water use efficiency, Preciency irrigation technologies on form management, and crop alignment.
Integrated Watershed Development Programme (IWDP) :
Watershed Development activities are implemented by the department of Land Resources and the ministry of rural development. and also it focuses on water harvesting structures like check dams, Nala bunds, farm ponds, tanks, etc. Watershed development also focuses on the storage of rainwater or runoff water, moisture conservation activities, drainage line treatment, and rainwater harvesting, and also seeks to conserve water, prevent soil erosion and protect against moisture. Integration with MGNREGA for the creation of water resources at full potential in identified rainfed blocks including restoration of traditional water resources.
Watershed development implemented activities such as nursery farming, afforestation, horticulture, pasture development, a fair production system, and micro industries for small and medium farmers. It also focuses on the development of rain-fed areas towards soil and water conservation, groundwater regeneration, runoff prevention, and promotion of water harvesting management programs. It focuses on effective rainwater management like Farm bunds, Contour trenches, Staggered Contour Trenches under MGNREGA Conserve Water, land leveling in basin and furrow irrigation, and Mulching is a long-established horticultural practice.
Challenges
☆ Delay in the allocation of funds for the implementation of projects by the authorities, corruption is also another issue.
☆ There is a lack of specialists in the agriculture field related to PMKSY. At present, the scheme is implemented by ordinary bureaucrats.
☆ In the implementation of PMKSY, there is a lack of accountability for failure to meet targets.
☆ Being flagship schemes, the authorities face difficulties as some states do not update the progress of the scheme targets in time.
☆ "Per Drop More Crop" requires a lot of investment to buy sprinklers, and rain guns for micro and drip irrigation, which small and medium farmers can not afford to buy.
☆ Providing free power and water by the government is facing more difficulties and creating a shortage in the industrial sector.
☆ There is a lack of cooperation and coordination between various departments and several states.
☆ Prioritization of projects and programs is an important issue for officials and the government.
Way forward
☆ Projects implemented under the PMKSY scheme should be completed as soon as possible within a short period.
☆ Maintenance and implementation programs under the PMKSY scheme should continue in mission mode.
☆ The government should tighten the rules to ensure transparency in the implementation of the scheme.
☆ Governments and authorities should give priority to accountability when departments fail to reach targets.
☆ Projects with fewer funds should be given priority and completed as soon as possible.
☆ Regular monitoring and evaluation of achieved outcomes by authorities and governments are essential.
☆ Subject matter experts, engineers, and those with specialized knowledge in agriculture should be included in the scheme.
Article Contributed By :
Mehar Routh
