"Per Drop More Crop Scheme Covers 115 Lakh Hectares Under Micro-Irrigation"
Micro-irrigation
delivery of water directly to the plant root zone via drip or sprinkler systems, minimising losses.
Fertigation
application of fertilizers dissolved in irrigation water, delivered directly to the root zone.
More than 80% of India's available water resources are used for agricultural irrigation. Yet only about 50% of the net sown area has irrigation facilities. This gap is a structural challenge for Indian agriculture. Most irrigation in India has historically relied on flood or furrow methods, which deliver water across entire fields rather than to plant roots. These methods waste large volumes of water and can cause soil salinity and erosion over time.
Micro-irrigation, covering both drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation, addresses this by delivering water directly to the root zone. Drip systems use a network of pipes with small emitters placed near plant bases. Sprinkler systems spray water like artificial rain. Both methods reduce water loss through evaporation and runoff. As groundwater tables fall across large parts of India, shifting to micro-irrigation has become a national priority.
The policy history of micro-irrigation in India spans two decades. It began as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Micro Irrigation in January 2006. It was upgraded to the National Mission on Micro Irrigation (NMMI) in 2010-11. During 2014-15, it was absorbed into the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) under the On Farm Water Management component. From 2015-16 to 2021-22, it was formally named Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) and implemented as a core component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). Since 2022-23, PDMC has been implemented under the restructured Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY).
Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) is a centrally sponsored scheme that promotes micro-irrigation at the farm level. It supports two technologies: drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation. The scheme provides financial assistance of up to five hectares per beneficiary. Small and marginal farmers receive 55% subsidy, while other farmers receive 45%. Some state governments add further subsidies from their own budgets. Farmers can claim assistance again for the same land after seven years.
A key feature of PDMC is its focus on fertigation, the practice of applying fertilizers dissolved in irrigation water, delivered directly to the root zone. This improves nutrient use efficiency and reduces the quantity of fertilizer needed. The scheme also prioritises water-scarce and groundwater-stressed regions, and supports integration of micro-irrigation with tube wells, river-lift irrigation, and solar-powered irrigation systems. …
Which of the following is/are the advantage/advantages of practising drip irrigation?
1.Reduction in weed
2.Reduction in soil salinity
3.Reduction in soil erosion
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Which of the following practices can help in water conservation in agriculture?
1.Reduced or zero tillage of the land
2.Applying gypsum before irrigating the field
3.Allowing crop residue to remain in the field
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Elaborate the impact of National Watershed Project in increasing agricultural production from water-stressed areas.
Consider the following statements regarding the Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme:
1.Small and marginal farmers receive 55% financial assistance, while other farmers receive 45%.
2.Financial assistance is available for up to ten hectares per beneficiary.
3.Farmers can claim assistance again for the same land after seven years.
4.The scheme is currently implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY).
How many of the above statements are correct?
Which of the following is/are correct regarding the advantages of drip irrigation?
1.It reduces weed growth by keeping inter-row soil dry.
2.It reduces soil salinity by flushing salts below the root zone.
3.It reduces soil erosion by eliminating surface runoff.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Match the following regarding the institutional evolution of India's micro-irrigation policy:
List I (Phase) — List II (Institutional Home)
A.2006 — 1. National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)
B.2010-11 — 2. Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Micro Irrigation
C.2014-15 — 3. Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY)
D.2022-23 onwards — 4. National Mission on Micro Irrigation (NMMI)
Choose the correct match:
Consider the following statements about the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY):
1.It was restructured in October 2024 as an umbrella scheme merging nine agricultural programmes.
2.It gives state governments the flexibility to reallocate funds between components based on local needs.
3.Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) is one of its components.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
With reference to 'fertigation', which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.It involves applying fertilizers through irrigation water directly to the plant root zone.
2.It is promoted under the Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme to improve nutrient use efficiency.
3.It is applicable only to drip irrigation systems and cannot be used with sprinkler systems.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
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