**Executive Summary:**
This document presents the Indian government's response to a parliamentary question regarding micro-irrigation initiatives in Punjab under the 'Per Drop More Crop' scheme, supported by the Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) with NABARD. It details loans, area coverage, project proposals, and special steps taken to promote water-efficient irrigation techniques, especially in states with lower scheme uptake like Punjab. The response includes an annexure providing state-wise project details as of July 29, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) and 'Per Drop More Crop' Scheme:**
* The scheme aims to support micro-irrigation through loans from the MIF with NABARD.
* The government provides interest subvention of 2% on loans to states under the scheme.
* **State-wise Project Details (as of July 29, 2025):**
* Annexure provides project-wise details of MIF, including loan amounts and area covered.
* States like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat have completed top-up subsidy projects.
* Ongoing projects include top-up subsidies and innovative micro-irrigation initiatives in states like Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Karnataka.
* **Punjab-Specific Provisions:**
* Punjab is identified as a state with lower scheme uptake.
* A 15% higher unit cost for subsidy calculation is provided for low penetration states, including Punjab.
* Punjab provides top-up subsidies with an effective subsidy of 90% for SC, small, marginal, and women farmers and 80% for other farmers.
* Demonstrations of micro-irrigation technologies are conducted in Punjab at state government farms and progressive farmers' fields.
* **Government Actions:**
* The Ministry regularly requests States/UTs to avail of loans under MIF.
* Operational Guidelines of PDMC Scheme have provision for higher unit cost for subsidy calculation for North Eastern Himalayan states and other low penetration states including Punjab.
**Impact Analysis:**
**State Governments (Including Punjab):**
* *Impact:* Encouraged to increase the adoption of micro-irrigation through MIF loans and utilize available subsidy provisions. Lower uptake observed in some States including the State of Punjab
* *Action Required:* Avail loans under MIF, implement micro-irrigation projects, and conduct demonstrations of micro-irrigation technologies.
**Farmers (Especially in Punjab):**
* *Impact:* Opportunity to access subsidies (90% for specific categories, 80% for others) for micro-irrigation adoption.
* *Action Required:* Participate in demonstration programs and adopt micro-irrigation technologies to improve water efficiency.
**NABARD:**
* *Impact:* Involved in providing loans through the Micro Irrigation Fund.
* *Action Required:* Continue to facilitate loan disbursement to states for micro-irrigation projects.
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.
Harsimrat Kaur Badal: The Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question.
Micro Irrigation Fund MIF: A fund established to promote micro-irrigation, managed by NABARD.
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development NABARD: An apex development finance institution in India.
Per Drop More Crop: A scheme to support microirrigation.
Punjab: A state in India, which is the focus of the unstarred question regarding micro-irrigation.
Ramnath Thakur: The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE& FARMERS' WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS' WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1556
TO BE ANSWERED ON 29TH JULY, 2025
MICRO IRRIGATION IN PUNJAB
1556. SMT. HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL:
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 loans taken by the different States from the Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) with
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) under 'Per Drop More Crop'
to support micro-irrigation in Punjab in the last 5 years;
(b) the area brought under micro-irrigation through the scheme so far, State-wise;
(c) the details of project proposals received from and implemented by the Punjab Government
for expanding coverage of Micro Irrigation in the State; and
(d) whether the Government is taking any special steps towards the success of this scheme
specifically in Punjab, considering the urgent need to introduce water-effective irrigation
techniques, if so, the details thereof?
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) to (d): Details of the projects, loans taken and area covered under micro irrigation through
Micro Irrigation Fund by States including State of Punjab are given in Annexure.
Lower uptake of the scheme has been observed in some States including State of
Punjab. Provision has been made in Operational Guidelines of PDMC Scheme for 25%
higher unit cost for calculation of subsidy for the North Eastern & Himalayan states and 15%
higher for the other low penetration States including Punjab for coverage of more area under
the scheme.
Besides, State of Punjab is also providing top-up subsidy through MIF under PDMC
with effective subsidy of 90% for SC/ Small & Marginal and Women and 80% to other farmers.
Demonstrations of micro-irrigation technologies is also being done by the State at State Govt.
farms and fields of progressive farmers.
To keep the borrowing under MIF attractive for the State Governments, Government of
India is providing interest subvention @ 2% on the loans extended by to States, which is met
from Per Drop More Crop Scheme.
Ministry time to time requests States/UTs to avail loan under MIF to increase adoption of
micro irrigation which is an effective water efficient technology.Annexure to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.1556 for answer on 29.07.2025
State-wise Project-wise details of Micro-Irrigation Fund (MIF)
(Amount in Rs. Crore) (Area in lakh ha)
Amount of Amount of
Sr. Area covered
State Kind of project loan loan Status
No. under MI*
sanctioned disbursed
1 Andhra Pradesh Top up subsidy 616.13 616.13 1.83 Completed
2 Tamil Nadu Top up subsidy 1357.93 1357.93 5.14 Completed
Top up subsidy and
97.74 95.78 0.413
Innovative
Ongoing
Innovative (MI for
effluent treated 314.3 103.97 Ongoing
water)
3 Haryana Innovative (MI in
Command area of 252.08 112.066 Ongoing
kheri distributary)
Innovative (MI in
Canal Command 121.18 54.070 Ongoing
area)
Sub-Total 785.30 365.89 0.413
4 Gujarat Top up subsidy 764.13 764.13 6.07 Completed
Top-up subsidy &
5 Punjab 149.65 32.13 0.11 Ongoing
Demonstration
Innovative (Tea
6 Uttarakhand 4.807 0.57 Ongoing
plantations) 0.0004
Top up subsidy and
Innovative (Dark
7 Rajasthan Blocks Coverage 740.79 667.45 7.34 Ongoing
and Capacity
Building)
8 Karnataka Top up subsidy 290.33 257.06 2.30 Ongoing
Total 4709.06 4061.31 23.2145
* The area covered under MI includes the area covered under PDMC through Topup subsidy project of MIF
*****