Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayee Yojana

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana is a national mission launched in 2015 by the Government of India with an investment of 50,000 crores (US$ 7.7 billion). It aims to develop irrigation sources to provide a permanent solution to drought. It has the motto “Har Khet Ko Paani.” In this article, we will look into the objectives, components, investments, developments, and benefits of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY).

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana

The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana focuses on creating sources of guaranteed and protected irrigation by utilizing “Jal Sinchan” and “Jal Sanchay.” Besides this, subsidies are used to encourage micro-irrigation to guarantee “More Crop Per Drop”. This mission aims to increase the area under cultivation while ensuring irrigation, improving water usage efficiency, and reducing water wastage. The PMKSY Yojana was formed by combining several existing programs. This includes:

• Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program of the Ministry of Water Resources (AIBP)
• River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (RD&GR)
• Integrated Watershed Management Program (IWMP)
• On Farm Water Management (OFWM)

Objectives of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana

The following are the objectives of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana:

• Improve the physical accessibility of water on the farm and expand the cultivated area under assured irrigation (Har Khet ko Pani).
• Water source, distribution, and efficient usage are all integrated to make the best use of water through appropriate technology and practices.
• Achieve convergence of irrigation investments at the field level (preparation of district level and, if required, sub-district level water use plans).
• Improve the efficiency of on-farm water use to reduce wastage and increase availability in both duration and extent.
• Promote the use of water-saving technologies, such as precise irrigation (More Crop Per Drop).
• Enhance aquifer recharge and implement sustainable water conservation practices.
• Assure the integrated development of rainfed areas using the watershed approach to soil and water conservation, groundwater regeneration, runoff prevention, offering livelihood possibilities, and other NRM activities.
• Encourage farmers and local field workers to participate in extension programs on water harvesting, water management, and crop alignment.
• The viability of utilizing treated municipal waste water for peri-urban agriculture should be explored.
• Increase private investment in irrigation.

Components of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)

The following are the components of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY):

1. Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP)

The AIBP was established in 1996 by the central government to assist major and medium-sized irrigation projects in India. The objective was to accelerate the implementation of projects that were beyond the resource capability of states. The AIBP became a part of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana in 2015. The program includes 99 projects with total funding of Rs. 77,595 crores (US$ 10.35 billion).

2. Command Area Development & Water Management Programme (CAD&WM)

The Command Area Development & Water Management Program’s major objective is to enhance the use of newly created irrigation potential and improve agricultural productivity and production through a coordinated, integrated approach involving multidisciplinary teams. The program is restricted to the 99 projects prioritized under the AIBP. 

3. Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI)

Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) initiatives with irrigation potential of fewer than 2,000 hectares are included in the AIBP for giving central assistance. The initiative has been extended to cover drought-prone areas, flood-prone areas, left-wing extremists, and the Odisha districts of Koraput, Bolangir, and Kalahandi (KBK). 

4. Repair, Renovation & Restoration (RRR) Programme

Tanks, ponds, and lakes play a vital role in conserving water in India to meet the various needs of communities. In 2005, the Ministry of Water Resources introduced the Repair, Renovation, and Restoration (RRR) initiative for water bodies. The initiative has covered 3,341 water bodies at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,309.16 crores (US$ 174.69 million). 

5. Har Khet ko Pani

The Har Khet ko Pani initiative includes the development of new water sources through minor irrigation repair, restoration, and renovation of water bodies, the construction of rainwater harvesting structures (Jal Sanchay), the strengthening of the carrying capacity of traditional water sources, the improvement of water management and distribution systems, and groundwater development. 

6. Per Drop More Crop

The Per Drop More Crop initiative includes promoting efficient water conveyance and precision water application devices in farms such as drips, sprinklers, pivots, and rain guns, building micro irrigation structures to supplement source creation activities such as tube wells and dug wells, installing water lifting devices such as electric/diesel/solar pump sets, awareness campaigns and building capacity training including low-cost publications, and empowering extension work.

7. Watershed Development

It includes runoff water management and also improved soil and moisture conservation activities such as rainfall harvesting, ridge area treatment, drainage line treatment, in-situ moisture conservation, and other watershed-based activities.

Investments for Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)

The following investments were made for Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY):

• The Maharashtra state government allocated Rs. 400 crores (US$ 53.37 million) in March 2021 for various irrigation development corporations to complete various irrigation projects under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana and Baliraja Sanjeevani Yojana.
• In February 2021, the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Ministry declared a plan to spend half of the Rs. 131,531 crores (US$ 17.55 billion) budget allocation on the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana for the financial year 2021-22. 
• The Union Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare approved subsidized loans of Rs. 3,971.31 crores (US$ 529.93 million) for the implementation of micro-irrigation projects in November 2020.
• The Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmer’s Welfare announced an allocation of Rs. 4,000 crores (Rs. 533.76 million) to the state government in June 2020 to implement the ‘Per Drop More Crop’ component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana for the fiscal year 2020-21.

Ministries Participating in Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)

The following ministries took part in Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY):

1. Ministry of Agriculture

Build micro-irrigation structures to support source creation activities, extension programs to promote scientific moisture conservation and agronomic measures, and efficient water conveyance and precision water application devices, such as drips, sprinklers, pivots, and rain-guns, in the farm “(Jal Sinchan)”.

2. MoWR RD & GR

Implement a range of strategies to establish a guaranteed source of irrigation, build field channels and diversion canals, implement lift irrigation and water diversion, and establish water distribution systems.

3. Ministry of Rural Development

The Ministry of Rural Development mostly constructs farm ponds, rainwater harvesting structures, small check dams, contour bunding, and other related projects.

Committees Associated with PMKSY Implementation

The following committees are involved with PMKSY implementation:

1. National Steering Committee (NSC): The National Steering Committee (NSC) is an interministerial committee that includes union ministers from all relevant ministries and is chaired by the prime minister. The initiative at the national level will be supervised and monitored by it.
2. National Executive Committee (NEC): The Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog will preside over the formation of the National Executive Committee (NEC). It will be responsible for managing administrative concerns, monitoring and performance evaluation, resource allocation, interministerial coordination, program implementation, and more.
3. State-Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC): To manage the program at the state level, the Chief Secretary of each State will chair the SLSC. It will be fully empowered to approve the proposal and monitor the scheme’s development.
4. District-Level Implementation Committee: To guarantee last-mile cooperation at the field level, at the district level.

Key Developments under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)

The following developments were made after the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY):

• A mobile application with information on the work being done under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Scheme was launched in October 2020 by the Union Minister of State for Waterpower and Social Justice and Empowerment.
• The Assam state government launched the Kisan Rath (fruits and vegetables) mobile application in October 2020 to facilitate timely selling of agricultural products by promoting the buyer-seller network. 

Benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)

The following are the benefits or advantages of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana:

• Water Saving & Water Use Efficiency (WUE)
• Less Energy Costs
• Efficient & Flexible
• Higher fertilizer-use efficiency (FUE)
• Reduced Labour Costs
• Higher Profits
• Reduce Soil Loss
• Marginal Soils & Water
• Improved Crop Quality
• Higher Yields 

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana UPSC

PMKSY is an important government program for managing and conserving water. Government schemes are essential for the UPSC exam from the perspective of both the preliminary exam and the mains exam. Students who are preparing for the UPSC exam can refer to this article for comprehensive understanding of the topic.

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• Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana
• Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana
• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana

FAQs – Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana

1. What is the purpose of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana?

The purposes of PMKSY are to increase the amount of money invested in irrigation at the field level, increase the area that can be farmed with guaranteed irrigation, increase the adoption of precision irrigation and other water-saving technologies (more crops per drop), and improve the efficiency of water use on farms.

2. What is the objective of Pradhan Mantri Sinchai Yojana?

In 2015–16, it was combined under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. Its goals include restoring the groundwater table and preserving and enhancing deteriorated natural resources. The state irrigation plan and the district irrigation plan are used to carry it out.

3.  Who launched the Sinchai Yojana?

The Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Micro Irrigation (CSS) was introduced in January 2006 by the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture.

4. What is the tagline of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana?

Providing the conditions for the best possible water budgeting across the board is the aim of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. “More crop per drop” is the slogan for PMKSY.

5. What are the disadvantages of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana?

Financial constraints faced by the farmers included high maintenance costs (89.38), “high cost of equipment / spare parts” (86.11), needing an additional tank to achieve optimal pressure (81.86), inadequate subsidies provided (80.75), a laborious loaning process (77.88), and expensive liquid fertilizer (72.20).