Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)

The primary goal of PMKSY is to achieve convergence of irrigation investments at the field level, expand cultivable area under assured irrigation, improve on-farm water use efficiency to reduce water waste, increase adoption of precision-irrigation and other water-saving technologies (more crop per drop), recharge aquifers, and introduce sustainable water conservation practises

PMKSY was created by combining existing schemes such as the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation's (MoWR,RD&GR) Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program (AIBP), the Department of Land Resources' (DoLR) Integrated Watershed Management Program (IWMP), and the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation's (OFWM) (DAC). The Agriculture, Water Resources, and Rural Development Ministries will carry out the scheme

The Ministry of Rural Development will primarily focus on rainwater conservation, farm pond construction, water harvesting structures, minor check dams, and contour bunding, among other things. The MoWR, RD, and GR will take a variety of steps to ensure an irrigation source, including the building of diversion canals, field channels, water diversion/lift irrigation, and the establishment of water distribution systems. In the farm “(Jal Sinchan),” the Ministry of Agriculture will promote efficient water conveyance and precision water application devices such as drippers, sprinklers, pivots, and rain-guns, as well as the construction of micro-irrigation structures to supplement source creation activities, extension activities to promote scientific moisture conservation and agronomic measures

The PMKSY program architecture will be built on a ‘decentralised State level planning and project-based execution' framework, allowing States to create their own irrigation development plans based on District Irrigation Plans (DIP) and State Irrigation Plans (SIP) (SIP). Through a comprehensive plan, it will serve as a convergence platform for all water sector activities such as drinking water and sanitation, MGNREGA, science and technology applications, and so on. The State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC), chaired by the Chief Secretary of the State, would be tasked with overseeing its implementation and sanctioning projects

The initiative will be overseen and monitored by an Inter-Ministerial National Steering Committee (NSC) chaired by the Prime Minister and comprised of Union Ministers from relevant Ministries. A National Executive Committee (NEC) will be formed under the chairmanship of the Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog to oversee program implementation, resource allocation, inter-ministerial coordination, monitoring and performance evaluation, managing administrative concerns, and so on

Objectives:

• Convergence of irrigation investments at the field level (preparation of district level and, if required, sub district level water use plans)
• Improve physical access to water on the farm and expand cultivable land under guaranteed 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 practises
• Improve the efficiency of on-farm water use to reduce waste and enhance availability in both duration and extent
• Increase the use of precision irrigation and other water-saving technology (More crop per drop)
• Improve aquifer recharge and implement long-term water conservation techniques
• Ensure the integrated development of rainfed regions through the use of the watershed approach to soil and water conservation, ground water regeneration, runoff prevention, and other NRM operations
• Encourage farmers and grass-roots field functionaries to participate in extension activities related to water harvesting, water management, and crop alignment
• Investigate the viability of reusing treated municipal waste water for peri-urban agriculture
• Increase private investment in irrigation

Program Implementation:

• The Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, with a budget of Rs.50,000 crores for a five-year period (2015-16 to 2019-20), aims to achieve convergence of irrigation investments at the field level
• PMKSY was created by combining existing schemes such as the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation's Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program (AIBP), the Department of Land Resources' Integrated Watershed Management Program (IWMP), and the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation's National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)
• PMKSY will be implemented under an area development model, with decentralised state level planning and project-based execution, allowing states to design irrigation development plans based on district/block plans with a 5 to 7-year horizon. The District/State Irrigation Plan can be used by states to initiate projects
• The program applies to all states and union territories, including the North Eastern states
• The National Steering Committee (NSC) of PMKSY, chaired by the Hon'ble Prime Minister, will offer policy direction to the program framework, while the National Executive Committee (NEC), chaired by the Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, would oversee program implementation at the national level
• During 2015-16, funds were made available under PMKSY for farmers and grass-roots field functionaries to conduct extension activities in the field, with a particular emphasis on water harvesting, water management, and crop alignment

Disclaimer:All the data mentioned in this article is only for information purposes and is fetched from reliable sources

Sources

https://pmksy.gov.in/AboutPMKSY.aspx
https://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/policies-and-schemes/crops-related/pradhan-mantri-krishi-sinchai-yojana