**Executive Summary**
The document addresses Unstarred Question No. 216 in Lok Sabha, answered on January 29, 2026, regarding the adoption rate of drip and micro-irrigation in Maharashtra. It outlines the central subsidies provided to farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) from 2022-23 to 2024-25, including awareness and capital support measures. It also details the district-wise areas covered under micro-irrigation in Maharashtra.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) Scheme:**
* Launched in 2015-16 as a sub-component of PMKSY, later subsumed under Pradhan Mantri-Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) in 2022-23.
* Focuses on enhancing water use efficiency at the farm level through drip and sprinkler irrigation systems.
* 11.82 lakh hectare area in Maharashtra has been covered through PDMC scheme, out of the 107.71 lakh hectare covered in the Country, which is about 11% of the area covered in the Country.
* **Central Assistance:**
* Rs. 909.79 crore provided to Maharashtra from 2022-23 to 2024-25 for PDMC scheme implementation.
* Rs. 162.76 crore allocated to Nandurbar, Bhandara, Solapur, and Sangli districts.
* **Subsidies under PDMC Scheme:**
* 55% subsidy for small and marginal farmers, and 45% for other farmers (limited to 5 hectare area).
* Additional top-up 25% subsidy to small and marginal farmers and 30% subsidy to other farmers under the Chief Minister Sustainable Agriculture Irrigation Scheme.
* 10% and 15% subsidy to Scheduled Cast (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) categories through Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Krishi Swavalamban Yojana & Birsa Munda Krishi Kranti Yojana.
* Total subsidy up to 80% for small and marginal farmers and 75% for other farmers.
* Total Subsidy up to 90% for SC/ST farmers.
* **Awareness Campaigns:**
* Special campaigns promoting micro-irrigation among SC/ST farmers.
* Service Fortnight Campaign organized every January at the field level jointly by the Producer Company and the Agriculture Department.
* **District-wise Coverage:**
* District-wise data on the area brought under micro-irrigation in the last three years in Maharashtra, is available at Annexure.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers in Maharashtra**
* **Impact:** Access to subsidized micro-irrigation systems, potentially increasing water use efficiency and agricultural productivity.
* **Action Required:** Farmers should take advantage of the available subsidies and participate in awareness campaigns to adopt drip and micro-irrigation techniques.
**Government of Maharashtra**
* **Impact:** Responsible for effective implementation of the PDMC scheme, including awareness campaigns, subsidy distribution, and monitoring of micro-irrigation adoption.
* **Action Required:** Continue supporting and promoting micro-irrigation through existing schemes, campaigns, and collaborations with relevant organizations.
**Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes**
* **Impact:** Higher rates of subsidies available through Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Krishi Swavalamban Yojana & Birsa Munda Krishi Kranti Yojana and campaigns directed to increase the uptake of the scheme.
* **Action Required:** Be aware and take advantage of the higher rates of subsidy to increase the uptake of drip and micro-irrigation.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): A central government scheme aimed at enhancing water use efficiency and promoting micro-irrigation, including drip and sprinkler systems, in agriculture.
Per Drop More Crop: A micro-irrigation scheme launched in 2015-16 as a sub-component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).
Maharashtra: The state where the adoption rate of drip and micro-irrigation among farmers is under discussion.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The central government ministry responsible for water resources and irrigation policies.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 216
ANSWERED ON 29.01.2026
ADOPTION RATE OF DRIP AND MICRO-IRRIGATION IN MAHARASHTRA
216. SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL:
Ms. PRANITI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE:
Adv GOWAAL KAGADA PADAVI:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that the adoption rate of drip and micro-irrigation among farmers in
Maharashtra remains low, if so, the details thereof;
(b) the total amount of Central subsidies provided to farmers in Maharashtra under Pradhan Mantri Krishi
Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) during the last three years, district-wise including Nandurbar, Bhandara,
Solapur and Sangli;
(c) the data on the cumulative area brought under micro-irrigation particularly in drought-prone regions in
Maharashtra, district-wise; and
(d) the steps taken to improve awareness and access to capital support for small and marginal farmers in
Maharashtra for adopting drip irrigation?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) Per Drop More Crop is a micro irrigation scheme launched in 2015-16 as a sub-component of
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and later subsumed under Pradhan Mantri-Rashtriya
Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) in 2022-2023. PDMC scheme focuses on enhancing water use efficiency
at farm level through micro irrigation namely Drip and Sprinkler irrigation systems.
Since 2015-16, an area 107.71 lakh hectare has been covered under Micro Irrigation in the Country
through PDMC scheme, out of which 11.82 lakh hectare area is in the State of Maharashtra, which is about
11% of the area covered in the Country.
(b) An amount of Rs. 909.79 crore as central assistance provided to the State of Maharashtra during the
last three years i.e. 2022-23 to 2024-25 for implementation of PDMC scheme, out of them Rs. 162.76 crore
has been provided to the districts of Nandurbar, Bhandara, Solapur and Sangli of Maharashtra. District
wise details are given below.
1District Subsidies provided (in Rs. Crore)
Nandurbar 57.77
Bhandara 1.62
Solapur 66.24
Sangli 37.13
(c) District-wise area brought under micro irrigation in last three years in Maharashtra under PDMC is
given at Annexure.
(d) Information regarding creating awareness and access to capital support for small and marginal
farmers in Maharashtra for adopting drip irrigation is given below:
Under PDMC Scheme, subsidy of 55% for small and marginal farmers and 45% for other farmers
(limited up to 5hectare area) is given. Apart from the allowable subsidy, additional top up 25% subsidy to
small and marginal farmers and 30% subsidy to other farmers is given under State scheme i.e. Chief
Minister Sustainable Agriculture Irrigation Scheme. In addition, subsidy of 10% and 15% is provided to
Scheduled Cast (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) categories respectively through Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar
Krishi Swavalamban Yojana & Birsa Munda Krishi Kranti Yojana.
Accordingly, total subsidy for micro-irrigation up to 80% for small and marginal farmers and 75%
for other farmers are being provided. Farmers from Scheduled Cast & Scheduled Tribes categories receive
total Subsidy up to 90%.
Special campaigns focused on promoting micro-irrigation among SC/ST farmers are also being
organized. A Service Fortnight Campaign is organised every year in the month of January at the field level
jointly by the Producer Company and the Agriculture Department.
***
2ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 216
TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 29.01.2026 REGARDING “ADOPTION RATE OF DRIP
AND MICRO-IRRIGATION IN MAHARASHTRA”
District-wise area brought under micro irrigation in last three years in Maharashtra
Sl. No. District Area in hectare
1 Ahilyanagar 19605.21
2 Akola 7225.86
3 Amravati 13684.9
4 Beed 16581.35
5 Bhandara 425.47
6 Buldana 29593.57
7 Chandrapur 4488.19
8 ChhatrapatiSambhajinagar 34761.24
9 Dharashiv 13139.02
10 Dhule 21048.45
11 Gadchiroli 162.56
12 Gondiya 339.74
13 Hingoli 7781.27
14 Jalgaon 71513.97
15 Jalna 22816.5
16 Kolhapur 2840.95
17 Latur 13610.03
18 Nagpur 5231.18
19 Nanded 13355.11
20 Nandurbar 12048.28
21 Nashik 13660.38
22 Palghar 140.77
23 Parbhani 11564.51
24 Pune 10527.76
25 Raigarh 46.26
26 Ratnagiri 196.85
27 Sangli 9156.48
28 Satara 4209.09
29 Sindhudurg 56.15
30 Solapur 19832.17
31 Thane 84.47
32 Wardha 8782.4
33 Washim 11698.16
34 Yavatmal 15292.79
Total 4,15,501.09
*****
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