Introduction:
In a country like India, where agriculture forms the backbone of the economy and water scarcity remains a major challenge, ensuring efficient and sustainable irrigation practices is of paramount importance. Recognizing this need, the Government of India launched the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) in 2015, aiming to revitalize the irrigation sector and provide “Har Khet Ko Paani” (water to every field). This article delves into the various components, objectives, achievements, and challenges associated with this ambitious scheme, analyzing its contribution to transforming the agricultural landscape in India.
The Need for PMKSY:
Traditionally, Indian agriculture has relied heavily on rainfall, making it vulnerable to weather fluctuations and droughts. According to the Central Water Commission, in 2023, only around 45% of the net cultivable area in India had access to assured irrigation facilities. This limited irrigation coverage leads to several challenges:
- Low productivity: Unreliable water availability hinders crop yields, impacting overall agricultural output and food security.
- Inefficient water use: Traditional irrigation practices can be wasteful, leading to waterlogging, soil salinity, and groundwater depletion.
- Increased farmer vulnerability: Dependence on rainfall makes farmers susceptible to droughts and income instability.
Objectives of PMKSY:
PMKSY is a comprehensive irrigation development scheme with the following key objectives:
- Enhance the irrigation potential: Aims to create an additional 100 million hectares of assured irrigation potential by 2030.
- Focus on on-farm water management: Promotes micro-irrigation technologies like drip and sprinkler irrigation to improve water use efficiency at the farm level.
- Decentralized planning and execution: Encourages state-level planning and execution through District Irrigation Plans (DIPs) and State Irrigation Plans (SIPs) to address local needs and priorities.
- Convergence of investments: Aims to achieve convergence of investments from various government programs and private sector participation to ensure optimal resource utilization.
- Improve water resource management: Promotes watershed development, rejuvenation of traditional water bodies, and adoption of precision irrigation techniques for sustainable water management.
Components of PMKSY:
PMKSY consists of three major components, each focusing on specific aspects of irrigation development:
- Har Khet Ko Paani (HKKP): This component focuses on completing long-pending irrigation projects, revitalizing traditional water bodies, and creating new water sources like minor irrigation schemes, check dams, and canal lining.
- Per Drop More Crop (PDMC): This component promotes micro-irrigation technologies by providing financial assistance to farmers for installation and adoption of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems.
- Command Area Development (CAD): This component aims to improve the efficiency of existing irrigation systems by addressing problems like waterlogging, drainage deficiencies, and tail-end neglect, ensuring equitable water distribution within the command area.
Achievements of PMKSY:
Since its inception, PMKSY has made significant strides in improving the irrigation landscape:
- Increased irrigation potential: As of September 2023, PMKSY has created an additional 92.3 million hectares of irrigation potential, contributing significantly towards the overall target.
- Promoting micro-irrigation: Over 22 million hectares of land have been brought under micro-irrigation across the country, promoting water use efficiency and improved crop yields.
- Rejuvenating traditional water bodies: More than 1.2 million traditional water bodies have been revived, improving water storage capacity and enhancing local water security.
- Financial assistance to farmers: Over 113 million farmers have benefited from various PMKSY initiatives, receiving financial support for irrigation infrastructure development and micro-irrigation adoption.
Challenges and Issues:
Despite its achievements, PMKSY faces several challenges that need to be addressed for sustained success:
- Inter-state water disputes: Sharing water resources across states poses a challenge, hindering the implementation of large-scale irrigation projects in some regions.
- Funding and resource constraints: Achieving the ambitious targets requires sustained financial commitment and efficient resource allocation.
- Lack of technical expertise and manpower: Shortage of qualified personnel in irrigation management and maintenance can hinder the effectiveness of the scheme.
- Sustainability concerns: Ensuring the long-term sustainability of water bodies and efficient use of resources is crucial to avoid potential environmental repercussions.
The Way Forward:
To ensure PMKSY continues to contribute effectively to India’s agricultural development, several key steps are crucial:
- Promoting inter-state cooperation: Collaborative efforts and agreements between states are essential to resolve water sharing disputes and facilitate the implementation of large-scale irrigation projects.
- Mobilizing additional resources: Exploring innovative financing mechanisms, such as public-private partnerships (PPPs), can help bridge the funding gap and ensure sustained investment in irrigation development.
- Capacity building and skill development: Strengthening the irrigation workforce through training programs and capacity building initiatives is crucial for efficient project execution and maintenance.
- Promoting awareness and adoption: Engaging farmers in awareness campaigns and capacity building programs can accelerate the adoption of micro-irrigation technologies and encourage water-saving practices.
- Promoting technology and innovation: Embracing new technologies like satellite-based irrigation monitoring systems and precision agriculture can further enhance water use efficiency and optimize resource utilization.
- Ensuring environmental sustainability: Implementing measures like integrated watershed management and promoting water-saving technologies are essential to ensure the long-term sustainability of water resources and minimize environmental impact.
Conclusion:
The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) has emerged as a critical initiative in transforming India’s irrigation landscape. While challenges remain, the scheme’s achievements so far demonstrate its potential to improve water use efficiency, enhance agricultural productivity, and empower farmers. By addressing existing challenges, promoting active collaboration between stakeholders, and embracing innovative approaches, PMKSY can continue to contribute significantly to building a more water-secure and resilient agricultural future for India.