India’s backbone is agriculture. With over half the population directly or indirectly dependent on it, the development of this sector is essential for national growth. However, Indian farmers face many challenges, most importantly, lack of proper irrigation. To address this, the Government of India launched the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) in 2015, a comprehensive scheme aimed at improving irrigation infrastructure and ensuring effective water use.
This article gives a complete overview of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, its objectives, structure, benefits, and how it is transforming the lives of farmers across India.
What is Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana?
The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in July 2015 with the goal of providing “Har Khet Ko Pani” (Water to every field) and ensuring “More Crop Per Drop” (efficient use of water). This scheme integrates various irrigation schemes under one umbrella to bring coordination and better results.
It aims to expand the area under irrigation, improve water use efficiency, promote water conservation technologies, and ensure sustainable farming practices. It combines efforts from different ministries to give a unified push to water and irrigation-related initiatives.
The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana takes a district-level planning approach, where each district prepares an irrigation plan that feeds into the state plan, making the process more tailored and effective.
Objectives of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana
The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana was not just created for building canals and wells. Its goals are broader and deeper. Let us understand the major objectives in detail:
1. Expand Irrigation Across the Country (Har Khet Ko Pani)
The first and foremost goal is to bring more land under assured irrigation. Many areas in India still depend on rainfall. This makes farming uncertain. Under this scheme, the government works to build new water sources and irrigation systems that help farmers irrigate their fields on time.
2. Improve Water Use Efficiency (More Crop Per Drop)
Water is becoming scarce. It is important to use every drop wisely. The scheme promotes precision irrigation methods like drip and sprinkler systems. These systems reduce water wastage and help crops grow better with less water.
3. Integrate Source, Distribution, and Application of Water
The scheme connects the entire water cycle, from water source development (like rivers, ponds, canals) to the distribution system (pipes, tanks) and finally to the field (application through irrigation systems). This approach reduces leakage, saves time, and helps farmers plan better.
4. Promote Water-Saving Technologies
Farmers are encouraged to adopt modern tools that help save water. These include soil moisture sensors, automatic irrigation timers, and treated urban wastewater reuse for peri-urban agriculture.
5. Support for Rainfed Areas and Watershed Development
The scheme pays special attention to rainfed agricultural regions. It promotes groundwater recharge, water harvesting structures, and watershed management to help these areas become self-reliant.
6. Training and Extension Activities for Farmers
The government organizes training programs for farmers on topics like water harvesting, crop alignment, and irrigation management. These sessions help farmers become skilled in managing water efficiently and increase their productivity.
Features and Structure of PMKSY
The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana is unique because it combines efforts from several departments and ministries. It is designed to be implemented through decentralized planning, which means districts and states play a major role in deciding what works best for their area.
The following are the key features:
1. Convergence of Resources
It brings together investments from Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Water Resources to work jointly on water conservation and irrigation development.
2. Decentralized Planning through DIP and SIP
Each District Irrigation Plan (DIP) is developed based on the actual ground needs of farmers. These DIPs form the basis for the State Irrigation Plan (SIP), allowing flexibility and better planning at the local level.
3. Geo-Tagging of Assets
All physical works done under the scheme are geo-tagged. This means their exact location is marked on digital maps for transparency, monitoring, and future reference.
4. Promoting Private Sector Participation
The government encourages private investments in micro-irrigation systems, including the manufacture and distribution of equipment like sprinklers and drip irrigation kits.
Components of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana
The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana is divided into four main components, each focusing on a particular area of irrigation.
1. Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program (AIBP)
This part of the scheme focuses on fast-tracking large and medium irrigation projects that were delayed due to lack of funds or resources. By completing these projects, lakhs of farmers get access to assured irrigation.
2. Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP)
This component works on:
- Creating new irrigation sources using both surface and groundwater
- Repairing and renovating traditional water bodies such as ponds, tanks, and step wells
- Building water distribution systems that connect water sources to fields
- Reviving old systems like Khatri, Zabo, Eri, and Dongs in different states
3. Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)
This component promotes micro-irrigation technologies like:
- Drip irrigation
- Sprinkler irrigation
- Rain-guns and pivots
It also supports building small water structures such as tube wells, farm ponds, and check dams. These measures ensure that water is used only where and when it is needed.
4. Watershed Development (WD)
This is especially useful in dry and hilly areas. It focuses on:
- Soil and moisture conservation
- Treatment of ridge areas and drainage lines
- Building structures to store rainwater
- Preventing soil erosion
Together, these components help in managing both surface and groundwater resources effectively.
Role of Ministries and Committees in PMKSY
The success of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana depends on the coordination among various government bodies. Let’s look at who does what:
The following are the involved ministries in PMKSY:
- Ministry of Agriculture: Promotes water-efficient irrigation tools and devices
- Ministry of Water Resources: Constructs major irrigation systems, diversion canals, and water distribution networks
- Ministry of Rural Development: Focuses on small-scale water conservation works like farm ponds and rainwater harvesting
The following are the key committees in PMKSY:
- National Steering Committee (NSC): Chaired by the Prime Minister. It provides top-level guidance and approves major policy decisions.
- National Executive Committee (NEC): Led by Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog. It coordinates across ministries and ensures proper fund allocation.
- State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC): Headed by the Chief Secretary of the state. It approves state-level projects and monitors progress.
- District Implementation Committee: Looks after project execution on the ground level, ensuring last-mile reach.
How Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana is Transforming Rural India?
The impact of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana can be seen across multiple states:
- In Maharashtra, thousands of farmers have switched to drip irrigation, reducing water usage by 40% while increasing crop yield.
- In Odisha, revival of traditional ponds and tanks has brought water back to areas that remained dry for years.
- Hilly regions like Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland are using traditional water systems, modified and improved under PMKSY.
The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana is more than just an irrigation project. It is a commitment by the Government of India to uplift the lives of farmers and make agriculture sustainable. By ensuring that every field gets water and that every drop is used wisely, PMKSY is building a strong foundation for rural development, food security, and economic growth.
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Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana FAQs
What is the main goal of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana?
The main goal is to provide irrigation to every farm and use water more efficiently in agriculture.
When was the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana launched?
It was launched in July 2015 by the Government of India.
What is the meaning of ‘More Crop Per Drop’?
It means growing more crops while using less water, focusing on efficiency.
