**Executive Summary**
This document addresses Unstarred Question No. 422 in Lok Sabha regarding the shortage of water for irrigation in Ladakh due to climate change. The question, posed by Shri Mohmad Haneefa, seeks information on the government's awareness, assessment, mitigation efforts, and financial assistance concerning water scarcity in the region. The answer provided by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ram Nath Thakur, confirms government awareness and outlines steps taken to address the issues. The question was to be answered on December 2nd, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Government Awareness and Action:**
* The Government acknowledges the challenges posed by climate change on agriculture in Ladakh, including drought-like conditions due to reduced snowfall, glacial retreat, and rising temperatures.
* Steps have been taken to deal with adverse climate situations in the agriculture sector.
* The UT Government of Ladakh has taken steps to mitigate water shortages and promote region-specific drought-resilient agricultural practices.
* Ladakh is extending financial assistance to address climate-induced water scarcity and support sustainable local agriculture and horticulture through various schemes.
* **Specific Initiatives and Expenditures:**
* 283 hectares have been brought under micro-irrigation systems through the Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) Scheme and Special Development Package (SDP).
* ₹12.33 lakh has been spent on establishing an Automatic Ice Reservoir (Artificial Glacier) under the District Capex for the year 2024-25.
* ₹72.50 lakh has been used for implementing mulching technology under the Other Special Area Program (OSAP) 33 – Subsidy during the year 2024-25.
* The Parkachik Khows Canal Project in Ladakh, a medium irrigation project, was included under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana – Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme during 2015–16.
* ₹2.98 crore has been provided for the Parkachik Khows Canal Project, with an irrigation potential of 1,500 hectares developed to date.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** UT Government of Ladakh
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing and reporting on climate change mitigation measures in the agriculture sector.
* **Action Required:** Continue to implement and report on region-specific interventions and financial assistance programs.
**Stakeholder:** Local Farmers and Horticulturalists in Ladakh
* **Impact:** Benefit from initiatives aimed at mitigating water scarcity and promoting drought-resilient agricultural practices.
* **Action Required:** Engage with available schemes and programs to adopt micro-irrigation systems, mulching technologies, and other supported practices to enhance water management and sustainability of agriculture.
**Stakeholder:** Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare
* **Impact:** Oversees and provides financial assistance and support to address climate change impacts on agriculture in Ladakh.
* **Action Required:** Continue to monitor the effectiveness of ongoing initiatives and explore additional support mechanisms for Ladakh's agriculture and horticulture sectors.
Key Entities Referenced
Ladakh: Union Territory heavily impacted by climate change related water scarcity, subject of financial and agricultural assistance
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare: The central ministry responding to the question about water shortage for irrigation.
Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) Scheme: A micro-irrigation scheme under which area has been brought
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana - Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme: Program under which irrigation projects in Ladakh were included
Special Development Package (SDP): Scheme under which area has been brought under micro-irrigation
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS’ WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS’ WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 422
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 02ND December, 2025
SHORTAGE OF WATER FOR IRRIGATION
422. SHRI MOHMAD HANEEFA:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS’ WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the recurring drought-like conditions in various parts
of Ladakh, due to reduced snowfall, glacial retreat, and rising temperatures resulting from
global warming, leading to severe shortage of water for irrigation purposes;
(b) if so, the steps taken by the Government to assess the long-term impact of climate change
on water availability for agriculture in high altitude cold desert regions of Ladakh;
(c) the details of steps being taken/proposed to be taken to mitigate the shortage of water for
agricultural needs, including implementing any region-specific drought-resilient agricultural
practices, traditional water harvesting systems or crop insurance mechanisms suited to
Ladakh's agro-climatic conditions; and
(d) whether any special assistance or financial package is being considered for Ladakh to
mitigate climate-induced water scarcity and sustain local agriculture and horticulture in the
region?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAM NATH THAKUR)
(a) to (d): Yes, the Government is aware of the challenges posed by climate change on
agriculture in the country, including Ladakh. Several steps have been taken to deal with
adverse climate situations in the agriculture sector. As reported by UT Government of
Ladakh, steps have been taken to mitigate the shortage of water for agricultural needs in
Ladakh, and to promote region-specific drought-resilient agricultural practices suited to its
unique agro-climatic conditions. The UT of Ladakh is extending financial assistance to
address climate-induced water scarcity and to support sustainability of local agriculture and
horticulture through various schemes and region-specific interventions as detailed below:i. About 283 hectares of area has been brought under micro-irrigation systems
under Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) Scheme and Special Development Package
(SDP).
ii. An expenditure of ₹12.33 lakh has been incurred for establishment of an
Automatic Ice Reservoir (Artificial Glacier) under the District Capex during the
year 2024–25.
iii. An expenditure of ₹72.50 lakh has been incurred for implementation of mulching
technology under Other Special Area Program (OSAP) 33 – Subsidy during the
year 2024–25.
Besides, one medium irrigation project in the UT of Ladakh, namely, the Parkachik
Khows Canal Project, was included under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana –
Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme during 2015–16. An amount of ₹2.98 crore has
been provided for the project, and an irrigation potential of 1,500 hectares has been
developed under it till date.
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