Executive Summary:
The document presents the aims, objectives, and financial aspects of the Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It addresses the scheme's impact on water use efficiency, crop yield, and farmer income. The document also provides details on central assistance released to states, including Andhra Pradesh, over the past five years, current year, and proposed funds for the upcoming year.
Key Points / Main Content:
Aims and Objectives of PDMC Scheme:
- Enhance water use efficiency at the farm level through micro-irrigation systems (drip and sprinkler).
- Increase the area under micro-irrigation technologies.
- Increase crop productivity and farmer income through precision water management.
- Promote micro-irrigation in water-intensive crops and extend coverage to field crops.
- Promote micro-irrigation in water-scarce and critical groundwater areas.
- Establish convergence with ongoing programs, including water source creation and solar energy integration.
- Promote and disseminate micro-irrigation technology for agriculture and horticulture development.
Impact of PDMC Scheme (as per NITI Aayog Study in 2020):
- Relevant in achieving national priorities, such as improving on-farm water use efficiency, enhancing crop productivity, and generating employment.
- Improved water use efficiency by 30% to 70%.
- Increased farmer income in the range of 10% to 69%.
Financial Assistance:
- Central assistance to States/UTs is based on the progress made under the scheme.
- Central Assistance released to States has varied over the past five years based on the progress made.
Central Assistance to Andhra Pradesh:
- Year-wise central assistance for the past five years (2020-21 to 2024-25) and current year (2025-26 until June 30, 2025) is detailed.
- Assistance figures for 2024-25 and 2025-26 are sanctioned amounts and may not be fully released.
Funds Released and Proposed:
- For 2024-25, ₹2793.37 crore was sanctioned to States/UTs, including ₹337.85 crore for Andhra Pradesh.
- For 2025-26 (till June 30, 2025), ₹1646.86 crore has been sanctioned, including ₹120.95 crore for Andhra Pradesh.
Impact Analysis:
States/UTs:
- Impact: Receive central assistance for implementing the PDMC scheme to improve water use efficiency and increase crop productivity. The amount of assistance depends on the progress made under the scheme.
- Action Required: Utilize the funds effectively to promote micro-irrigation, achieve the scheme's objectives, and report progress to the central government.
Farmers:
- Impact: Benefit from increased water use efficiency, improved crop yields, and potentially higher income through the adoption of micro-irrigation technologies.
- Action Required: Adopt micro-irrigation techniques like drip and sprinkler systems to improve water use efficiency and crop productivity.
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare:
- Impact: Responsible for implementing and monitoring the PDMC scheme, allocating funds to States/UTs, and assessing the scheme's impact on water use efficiency, crop yield, and farmer income.
- Action Required: Continue to monitor the progress of the scheme, allocate funds based on performance, and make necessary adjustments to achieve the scheme's objectives.
Key Entities Referenced
Per Drop More Crop PDMC: A centrally sponsored scheme implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to enhance water use efficiency at the farm level through micro-irrigation technologies.
SHRI PRABHAKAR REDDY VEMIREDDY: Member of Parliament who raised the question regarding the PDMC scheme in Lok Sabha.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India that received central assistance under the PDMC scheme, with specific allocations mentioned in the document.
SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR: The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question regarding the PDMC scheme.
NITI Aayog: A policy think tank of the Government of India, which conducted an impact evaluation study of the PDMC scheme in 2020.
Micro Irrigation: A key focus of the PDMC scheme, involving Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation systems to improve water use efficiency in agriculture.
PMRKVY: A programme under which funds were sanctioned for PDMC to States/UTs during the year 2024-25.
SNASPARSH: A model under which Mother Sanctions have been issued to States/UTs for the current financial year 2025-26.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1455
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29TH JULY, 2025
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF PDMC SCHEME
1455. SHRI PRABHAKAR REDDY VEMIREDDY:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण मं(cid:287)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) the aims and objectives of Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme being implemented
by the Ministry;
(b) the extent to which the use of PDMC helps in increasing the crop yield and
enhancement in the income of farmers;
(c) whether it is fact that Central assistance released to States under PDMC has come
down from Rs. 2,700 crores in 2019-20 to Rs. 2,103 crores in 2023-24;
(d) if so, the reasons therefor and assistance released to Andhra Pradesh during the last
five years and the current year, year-wise and district-wise; and
(e) the details of funds released in 2024-25 and proposed for 2025-26 and releases
made in the first six months, particularly for Andhra Pradesh?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) & (b) : Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme aims at enhancing water use
efficiency at farm level through Micro Irrigation, namely, Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation
systems. The objectives of the scheme include the following:
i. Increase the area under Micro Irrigation technologies in agriculture to enhance water
use efficiency.
ii. Increase productivity of crops and income of farmers through precision water
management.
iii. Promote micro irrigation technologies in water intensive/consuming crops and give
adequate focus to extend coverage of field crops under micro irrigation technologies.iv. Promote micro irrigation technologies in water scarce, water stressed and critical
ground water blocks/districts
v. Establish convergence and synergy with activities of on-going programmes and
schemes, particularly with created water source for its potential use, integration of
solar energy for pressurised irrigation etc.
vi. Promote, develop and disseminate micro irrigation technology for agriculture and
horticulture development with modern scientific knowledge.
NITI Aayog conducted impact evaluation study of PDMC scheme in 2020. Study
revealed that the scheme is relevant in achieving national priorities such as improving on-
farm water use efficiency, enhancing crop productivity, generating employment
opportunities and overall income enhancement of farmers. Micro irrigation adoption helped
to improve water use efficiency around 30% to 70% and Income of farmers increased in the
range of 10% to 69%.
(c) & (d): The release of Central Assistance to States/ UTs is based on the progress
made by them under the scheme. The details of funds allocated and released under PDMC
from 2019-20 to 2023-24 is as below :
Rs. in crore
Year Allocation (BE) Central Assistance
Released
2019-20 3500.00 2700.01
2020-21 4000.00 2562.19
2021-22 4000.00 1796.12
2022-23 3979.55 1901.37
2023-24 2983.40 2103.50
Total 18462.95 11063.19
Year-wise Central Assistance to Andhra Pradesh during the last five years and the current
year is as given below:
Rs. in crore
Year 2020- 2021- 2022- 2023- 2024- 2025-26 Total
21 22 23 24 25 (Till
30.6.25)
Central Assistance 100.00 180.00 222.82 105.75 337.85 120.95 1067.37
released/
sanctioned
(Note : Central Assistance shown during 2020-21 to 2023-24 is actual release to State. The
figures shown for the year 2024-25 and 2025-26 is of sanction /Mother Sanction under
SNA-SPARSH Model. The amount shown may not be fully released.)
(e): D uring the year 2024-25, Rs. 2793.37 crore was sanctioned/Mother sanction issued
to States/UTs for PDMC under PMRKVY which included Rs. 337.85 crore for State of
Andhra Pradesh. For the current financial year (2025-26), Mother Sanctions for Rs. 1646.86
crore have been issued under SNA-SPARSH to States/UTs till 30.6.2025 which includes
Rs. 120.95 crore for Andhra Pradesh.
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