Executive Summary:
This document presents the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1424 regarding micro-irrigation. It details the area covered under micro-irrigation, assistance provided to farmers, steps taken to promote modern technologies, impact assessments, and priority areas. The answer was provided on July 29, 2025, by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur.
Key Points / Main Content:
Micro-irrigation Coverage and Assistance:
* Annexure I provides state and year-wise details of the area brought under micro-irrigation in the last five years through the Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme.
* Financial assistance of 55%/45% of the unit cost is provided to Small/Marginal and Other farmers, respectively, for micro-irrigation systems.
* Some states offer top-up subsidies to farmers, including small and marginal farmers, beyond the PDMC subsidy.
* Annexure II details the central assistance provided to States/UTs for PDMC implementation.
* Beneficiary farmer details are not maintained centrally, but state-reported data is in Annexure III.
Technology Promotion:
* PDMC operational guidelines provide financial assistance for automation in micro-irrigation systems.
* The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) scheme prioritizes financial assistance for solar pumps to farmers using micro-irrigation.
* PDMC emphasizes convergence with PM-KUSUM to promote solar energy use in micro-irrigation.
Impact Assessment:
* A 2020 NITI Aayog study found PDMC relevant in improving water use efficiency, enhancing crop productivity, generating employment, and increasing farmer income.
* Micro-irrigation adoption improved water use efficiency by 30-70% and increased farmer income by 10-69%.
Priority Areas:
* PDMC guidelines emphasize promoting micro-irrigation in water-scarce, water-stressed, and critical groundwater areas.
* Focus is given to promoting micro-irrigation for water-intensive crops to minimize water requirements.
MGNREGA and Agriculture:
* MGNREGA is a demand-driven employment scheme with a bottom-up approach, planned at the Gram Panchayat level.
* MGNREGA aims to provide at least 100 days of unskilled manual work in a financial year to rural households, creating productive assets.
* 166 out of 266 permissible works under MGNREGA relate to agriculture and allied activities.
* At least 60% of MGNREGA expenditure is for creating productive assets directly linked to agriculture, land, water, and trees.
Impact Analysis:
Farmers:
* Impact: Benefit from financial assistance, subsidies, and access to modern irrigation technologies, leading to improved water efficiency, increased productivity, and higher income.
* Action Required: Adopt micro-irrigation systems, explore automation options, and utilize solar energy solutions through convergence with PM-KUSUM.
State Governments/UTs:
* Impact: Responsible for implementing the PDMC scheme, providing additional subsidies, and reporting beneficiary data.
* Action Required: Effectively implement and monitor the PDMC scheme, provide top-up subsidies, and accurately report beneficiary data to the central government.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare:
* Impact: Oversees the PDMC scheme, provides financial assistance, and promotes the adoption of modern technologies in micro-irrigation.
* Action Required: Continue to support and improve the PDMC scheme, promote convergence with PM-KUSUM, and monitor the impact of micro-irrigation on water use efficiency and farmer income.
NITI Aayog:
* Impact: Conducts impact evaluation studies on the PDMC scheme to assess its effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
* Action Required: Continue to conduct impact evaluation studies on the PDMC scheme and provide recommendations for improvement.
Ministry of Rural Development:
* Impact: Manages the MGNREGA scheme, which can be used to support agricultural activities.
* Action Required: Continue to align MGNREGA with agricultural needs and promote the creation of productive assets related to agriculture, land, water, and trees.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for agriculture and farmers' welfare.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the unstarred question was raised.
SHRI NAVEEN JINDAL: The Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question No. 1424 in Lok Sabha.
SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR: The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
PDMC: Per Drop More Crop scheme, a microirrigation scheme.
NITI Aayog: A policy think tank of the Government of India, which conducted an impact evaluation study on the PDMC scheme in 2020.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM): A scheme implemented by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to promote the use of solar energy in agriculture.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): An Indian labour law and social security measure that aims to guarantee the 'right to work'.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India, mentioned in the context of area covered under Micro Irrigation and central assistance provided
Bihar: A state in India, mentioned in the context of area covered under Micro Irrigation and central assistance provided
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE& FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1424
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29TH JULY, 2025
AREA UNDER MICRO-IRRIGATION
1424. SHRI NAVEEN JINDAL:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the total area (in lakh hectares) brought under micro-irrigation in the
last five years and the details of the targets for the next five years, State and year-wise;
(b) the details of the number of small and marginal farmers have been granted special
assistance or higher subsidies under the micro-irrigation schemes and the assistance
provided, State and year-wise;
(c) the details of the steps that have been taken by the Government to promote the use
of modern technologies such as soil moisture sensors, smart irrigation controllers, or solar-
based drip systems in micro-irrigation projects;
(d) whether the Government has conducted any assessment to determine the impact of
the micro-irrigation in increasing water saving, increased productivity and reduced fertilizer
use, if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the Government has identified priority districts or blocks in rainfed and
drought-prone areas for focused micro-irrigation interventions; and
(f) whether the Ministry is considering expanding the list of agricultural activities
permitted under MGNREGA in consultation with the Ministry of Rural Development to
include such agricultural activities for which the farmers are willing to contribute 50% of the
wages paid to the beneficiaries under MGNREGA from their own pocket with a view to not
only ensure the much-needed workforce for the farmers for agricultural activities but also
to increase significantly the income of the beneficiaries?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) & (b) : State and year-wise details of the total area (in lakh hectares) brought under
micro-irrigation in the last five years through PDMC is given at Annexure I.
Under the Scheme, Financial Assistance @ 55% & 45% of the Unit cost is provided to
Small & Marginal farmers and Other farmers respectively for installation of Micro Irrigation
Systems. Some States also provide top-up subsidy to farmers including small and marginal
farmers, over and above the subsidy available under the Scheme, to encourage farmers
to adopt micro irrigation.
State and year-wise details of Central Assistance provided to the States/UTs for
implementation of PDMC at Annexure II. The details of beneficiary farmers is not
maintained at central level. However, as reported by States, the details of farmers
including small and marginal farmers benefitted through the scheme is given at Annexure
III.(c) : Operational guidelines of PDMC have provision for providing financial assistance to
the farmers to adopt Automation in the Micro Irrigation Systems for ease of operation with
minimal or no manual intervention thereby achieving greater efficiency.
Under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM
KUSUM) Scheme being implemented by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy,
preference in providing financial assistance for solar pumps is given to farmers using Micro
irrigation systems. Operational guidelines of PDMC scheme also emphasis for
convergence of PDMC Scheme with PM-KUSUM for promoting use of solar energy in Micro
irrigation systems.
(d) : NITI Aayog conducted impact evaluation study on 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%.
(e) : The Operational guidelines of PDMC scheme emphasise on promoting micro
irrigation in water scarce, water stressed and critical ground water blocks/districts to
conserve water and get extended coverage in terms of area under irrigation. Focus is also
given to promote micro irrigation in water intensive/guzzling crops to minimise water
requirement.
(f) : Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is a
demand driven employment scheme with bottom up approach of implementation. The
works to be taken up are planned, prioritised and approved by the Gram Sabha at the Gram
Panchayat level. The works are to be taken up are as per demand from the field. The
core objectives of the Scheme include (i) Providing not less than one hundred days of
unskilled manual work as a guaranteed employment in a financial year to every household
in rural areas as per demand, resulting in creation of productive assets of prescribed quality
and durability; and (ii) Strengthening the livelihood resource base of the poor;
266 works are permissible under MGNREGA out of which 166 works are related to
Agriculture & allied Agriculture works. Under the MGNREGA, at least 60% of the
expenditure in terms of cost is for creation of productive assets directly linked to agriculture
and allied activities through development of land, water and trees.Annexure-I
Annexure to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1424 to be answered on 29/07/2025
Area covered under Micro Irrigation through PDMC during last five years (Area in
Lakh Hectare)
S.
State/UT 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 Total
No.
1 Andhra Pradesh - 0.15 0.91 0.82 1.18 3.05
2 Bihar 0.01 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.05 0.18
3 Chhattisgarh 0.19 0.19 0.24 0.00 0.14 0.75
4 Goa 0.0013 - 0.0001 0.0009 0.0018 0.0041
5 Gujarat 1.01 0.79 1.06 1.31 1.20 5.37
6 Haryana 0.12 0.43 0.37 0.34 0.19 1.45
7 Himachal Pra. 0.021 - 0.004 0.003 0.003 0.031
8 Jharkhand 0.02 0.05 0.06 0.06 0.05 0.24
9 J&K 0.01 0.0001 - - 0.0032 0.014
10 Karnataka 3.21 3.36 1.67 2.56 2.72 13.52
11 Kerala 0.004 0.004 0.018 0.001 0.009 0.036
12 Madhya Pradesh 0.18 0.70 0.47 0.53 0.30 2.17
13 Maharashtra 0.50 1.13 1.68 0.89 0.99 5.20
14 Odisha 0.14 0.30 0.22 0.31 0.23 1.21
15 Punjab 0.01 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.13
16 Rajasthan 0.69 0.78 1.91 2.20 1.32 6.90
17 Tamil Nadu 2.14 1.02 0.71 1.29 1.03 6.20
18 Telangana 0.11 0.36 0.41 0.05 0.32 1.24
19 Uttarakhand 0.04 0.04 0.07 0.01 0.02 0.18
20 Uttar Pradesh 0.58 0.34 0.65 0.62 1.02 3.21
21 West Bengal 0.15 0.14 0.25 0.14 0.14 0.82
22 Arun. Pradesh 0.07 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.04 0.17
23 Assam 0.07 0.13 0.08 0.06 0.06 0.39
24 Manipur 0.04 0.03 0.03 - 0.01 0.13
25 Meghalaya - - - 0.008 0.011 0.019
26 Mizoram 0.005 0.004 0.008 0.005 0.008 0.031
27 Nagaland 0.015 0.055 0.076 0.077 0.068 0.291
28 Sikkim 0.030 0.029 0.028 0.042 0.036 0.165
29 Tripura - 0.034 0.007 0.004 0.005 0.050
30 Ladakh - - 0.00003 - 0.00020 0.00023
Grand Total 9.37 10.15 11.02 11.41 11.19 53.15Annexure-II
Annexure to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1424 to be answered on 29/07/2025
Details of Central Assistance provided to the States/UTs under PDMC during last 5
years
(Rs. in Crore)
S No. States 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 Total
1 Andhra Pradesh 100.00 180.00 222.82 105.75 337.85 946.42
2 Bihar 21.60 9.50 17.25 42.99 91.34
3 Chhattisgarh 45.00 34.50 41.07 44.00 164.57
4 Goa 0.24 0.60 0.64 1.48
5 Gujarat 273.00 72.79 113.00 303.05 218.81 980.65
6 Haryana 98.00 57.60 78.00 57.20 68.90 359.7
7 Himachal Pradesh 20.00 17.50 5.00 7.99 50.49
8 Jharkhand 42.00 30.00 25.00 32.02 24.00 153.02
9 Jammu & Kashmir 10.00 7.50 17.5
10 Karnataka 400.00 500.00 187.64 360.00 390.00 1837.64
11 Kerala 5.00 0.32 3.02 8.34
12 Madhya Pradesh 125.00 50.00 106.31 130.00 411.31
13 Maharashtra 300.00 200.00 334.00 92.50 483.29 1409.79
14 Odisha 27.00 16.25 118.51 24.80 186.56
15 Punjab 3.75 6.00 5.50 15.25
16 Rajasthan 200.00 100.00 186.00 117.86 278.06 881.92
17 Tamil Nadu 400.00 116.00 159.50 314.96 294.00 1284.46
18 Telangana 33.22 31.00 64.22
19 Uttarakhand 50.00 30.00 66.75 13.67 26.06 186.48
20 Uttar Pradesh 200.00 150.00 149.25 133.49 173.87 806.61
21 West Bengal 61.00 30.00 15.00 106
22 Arunachal Pradesh 25.00 40.00 10.00 11.13 24.00 110.13
23 Assam 31.00 20.00 27.03 60.00 138.03
24 Manipur 27.50 60.00 15.00 19.60 12.25 134.35
25 Meghalaya 15.00 15
26 Mizoram 25.00 33.00 13.75 12.50 13.50 97.75
27 Nagaland 30.00 55.00 50.00 44.92 43.00 222.92
28 Sikkim 35.00 42.00 52.50 53.98 28.69 212.17
29 Tripura 13.20 4.76 4.06 4.50 26.52
Andaman &
30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.11 0.11
Nicobar Islands
31 Puducherry 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.10 0.15 0.25
32 Ladakh 0.00 0.00 0.50 0.50 1
33 Head Quarter 35.49 59.63 65.44 74.01 234.57
Total 2562.19 1796.12 1901.37 2103.50 2793.37 11156.55Annexure-III
Annexure to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1424 to be answered on 29/07/2025
Number of farmers including small and marginal farmers benefitted through the
PDMC scheme during last 5 years
S No. State 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 Total
1 Andhra Pradesh - 12519 82846 75035 111363 281763
2 Bihar 1440 1480 3062 6614 2144 14740
3 Chhattisgarh 21470 20230 26215 - 16140 84055
4 Goa 159 - 10 - 226 395
5 Gujarat 74414 57954 78264 96448 91958 399038
6 Haryana 5567 31497 29946 27842 16265 111117
7 Himachal Pradesh 4117 - 2133 1722 845 8817
8 Jharkhand 3332 8198 8960 10300 8096 38886
9 Jammu & Kashmir 1020 19 - - 81 1120
10 Karnataka 326815 360699 159194 253703 269227 1369638
11 Kerala 390 1114 1859 554 383 4300
12 Madhya Pradesh 8846 44172 10819 22594 15607 102038
13 Maharashtra 84319 179073 157793 23279 7951 452415
14 Odisha 16788 27712 12943 22786 16702 96931
15 Punjab 397 2884 1886 2250 2189 9606
16 Rajasthan 46849 65693 125890 148510 87143 474085
17 Tamil Nadu 211653 100669 70304 132087 107082 621795
18 Telangana 9575 31082 29051 4569 29161 103438
19 Uttarakhand 3473 6684 10428 1520 3244 25349
20 Uttar Pradesh 43346 23310 46152 46647 82447 241902
21 West Bengal 28814 40282 60709 47242 32298 209345
22 Arunachal Pradesh 808 3685 1657 1840 4009 11999
23 Assam 6682 13854 6808 7291 9585 44220
24 Manipur 3308 4581 1659 1295 1476 12319
25 Meghalaya - - - 1027 1427 2454
26 Mizoram 3009 1246 471 529 815 6070
27 Nagaland 970 3233 2519 3121 3308 13151
28 Sikkim 6543 7446 9045 10230 8895 42159
29 Tripura - 3504 732 366 460 5062
30 Ladakh - - 3 - 37 40
Total 914104 1052820 941358 949401 930564 4788247
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