Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare addressed a question regarding the Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme. The PDMC scheme was implemented from 2015-16 to 2021-22 under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and is being implemented under Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PMRKVY) from 2022-23 onwards. The scheme focuses on enhancing water use efficiency through micro-irrigation. Additionally, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) promotes water-efficient technologies and crop varieties.
Key Points / Main Content:
Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) Scheme:
* Implemented from 2015-16 to 2021-22 as part of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).
* Implemented under Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PMRKVY) from 2022-23.
* Aims to improve water use efficiency at the farm level using drip and sprinkler irrigation systems.
* Provides financial assistance: 55% of unit cost to small and marginal farmers, 45% to other farmers for micro-irrigation installation.
* Financial assistance is available up to 5 hectares per beneficiary.
* Beneficiaries are eligible for subsidy again for the same land after 7 years.
* 102.56 lakh hectares have been covered under micro-irrigation through PDMC from 2015-16 to 2025-26.
Water Productivity Improvement Measures by ICAR:
* Developed cost-effective, location-specific technologies, including rainwater harvesting, water recycling, and precision technologies.
* All India Coordinated Research Programme on Irrigation Water Management developed technologies for suitable crop types and cropping systems, reducing water losses, micro irrigation, appropriate irrigation schedules besides location specific efficient nutrient and agronomic management practices.
* Promoting technologies through KVK, training, public campaigns, and media to educate farmers.
* Developed and notified 328 drought-tolerant/less water-requiring crop varieties (195 cereals, 25 oilseeds, 43 pulses, 14 fibre crops, 16 forage crops, 33 sugarcane, and 2 other crops).
* Developed and notified 1064 rainfed varieties out of 3053 field crop varieties (391 cereals, 162 fibre crops, 69 forages, 219 oilseeds, 16 potential/other crops, 203 pulses and 4 sugarcane.)
Impact Analysis:
Farmers:
* Impact: Benefit from subsidized micro-irrigation systems and water-efficient technologies, potentially increasing income and promoting sustainable farming.
* Action Required: Adopt micro-irrigation techniques and water-efficient crop varieties.
State Governments:
* Impact: Responsible for implementing the PDMC scheme and may provide additional incentives to farmers.
* Action Required: Implement and monitor the PDMC scheme, potentially providing top-up subsidies.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR):
* Impact: Responsible for developing and promoting water-efficient technologies and crop varieties.
* Action Required: Continue research and development of water-efficient technologies and disseminate information to farmers.
Key Entities Referenced
Per Drop More Crop: A centrally sponsored scheme (PDMC) aimed at expanding microirrigation coverage across the country.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana: A scheme (PMKSY) under which the Per Drop More Crop scheme was implemented from 2015-16 to 2021-22.
Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana: A scheme (PMRKVY) under which the Per Drop More Crop scheme is being implemented from 2022-23.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research: An organization (ICAR) that has developed cost-effective, location-specific technologies for water management in agriculture.
SHRI DARSHAN SINGH CHOUDHARY: The Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question in Lok Sabha regarding Per Drop More Crop scheme.
SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR: The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question regarding the Per Drop More Crop scheme was raised.
Andhra Pradesh: One of the states in India, mentioned in the annexure for area covered under Micro Irrigation through PDMC.
O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE& FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 448
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22ND JULY, 2025
PER DROP MORE CROP
448. SHRI DARSHAN SINGH CHOUDHARY:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एव ं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण
म(cid:287)ं ी be pleased to state:
(a) the steps taken by the Government to expand the coverage of micro-irrigation
across the country;
(b) the details of area coverage, in hectares and percentage-wise, under the centrally
sponsored scheme ‘Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)’ in all States, since 2015–16;
(c) whether the Government is taking any other measures to improve water
productivity in agriculture and thereby promote sustainable farming and enhance farmers’
income; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ(cid:874)ष एव ं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a): Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare implemented the Centrally Sponsored
Scheme of Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) from 2015-16 to 2021-22 as a component of
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). From 2022-23, the scheme is being
implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY). The
scheme focuses on enhancing water use efficiency at farm level through Micro Irrigation,
namely, Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation systems.
Under the Scheme, Financial Assistance @ 55% and 45% of the unit cost is
provided to Small & Marginal farmers and Other farmers respectively for installation of
Micro Irrigation Systems. In addition, some States provide additional incentives/top up
subsidy to encourage farmers to adopt Micro Irrigation. The financial assistance is
available to the beneficiary up to 5 hectare. The beneficiary is eligible for subsidy again
for the same land after the 7 years period.(b): 102.56 lakh hectare has been covered under Micro Irrigation through PDMC from
2015-16 to 2025-26 (till date). State-wise details and percentage of coverage is Annexed.
(c) & (d): Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed cost effective,
location specific technologies viz., rainwater harvesting and recycling, multiple use of
water, conjunctive use of rain, surface and groundwater resources, smart and precision
technologies etc. In addition, All India Coordinated Research programme on Irrigation
Water Management has developed technologies for suitable crop types and cropping
systems, reducing water losses, micro irrigation, appropriate irrigation schedules besides
location specific efficient nutrient and agronomic management practices for improving
water productivity. These technologies are being promoted through KVK, training, public
campaigns, use of media etc. to educate farmers and other stakeholders. The details of
the water efficient crop varieties developed by ICAR are as under:
i) 328 drought tolerant / less water requiring or less rainfall requiring varieties have
been released and notified, out of which 195 are of Cereals; 25 are of Oilseeds; 43
are of Pulses; 14 are of Fibre crops; 16 are of Forage crops; 33 are of Sugarcane
and 2 are of other crops comprising 1 each of Kalingda and Grain Amaranthus.
ii) Out of 3053 field crop varieties developed and notified, 1064 are rainfed varieties,
comprising of 391 of Cereals; 162 of Fibre crops; 69 of Forages; 219 of Oilseeds;
16 of Potential Crops (Other Crops) which include 6 varieties of Grain Amaranth, 5
of Tobacco, and 2 of Kalingada, one each of Buckwheat, Asalio, and Winged Bean;
203 of Pulses and 4 of Sugarcane.Annexure
Annexure to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 448 to be answered on 22/07/2025
State-wise area covered under Micro Irrigation through PDMC from 2015-16 to
2025-26 and percentage
Area covered under Micro
% to total coverage in
S. Irrigation in lakh hectare
State/UT the Country [2015-16 to
No. [2015-16 to 2025-26 (till
2025-26 (till date)]
date)]
1 Andhra Pradesh 10.552 10.29
2 Bihar 0.355 0.35
3 Chhattisgarh 1.755 1.71
4 Goa 0.011 0.01
5 Gujarat 12.636 12.32
6 Haryana 2.053 2.00
7 Himachal Pradesh 0.112 0.11
8 Jharkhand 0.459 0.45
9 Jammu & Kashmir 0.014 0.01
10 Karnataka 23.182 22.60
11 Kerala 0.063 0.06
12 Madhya Pradesh 4.365 4.26
13 Maharashtra 11.251 10.97
14 Odisha 1.500 1.46
15 Punjab 0.195 0.19
16 Rajasthan 9.559 9.32
17 Tamil Nadu 12.643 12.33
18 Telangana 3.731 3.64
19 Uttarakhand 0.352 0.34
20 Uttar Pradesh 4.955 4.83
21 West Bengal 1.240 1.21
22 Arunachal Pradesh 0.173 0.17
23 Assam 0.584 0.57
24 Manipur 0.172 0.17
25 Meghalaya 0.019 0.02
26 Mizoram 0.058 0.06
27 Nagaland 0.319 0.31
28 Sikkim 0.198 0.19
29 Tripura 0.052 0.05
30 Ladakh 0.00029 0.0003
Total 102.56
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