The Central Government has rolled out a new policy under the ‘Per Drop More Crop’ scheme aimed at strengthening micro-irrigation, promoting water conservation, and enhancing farmers’ income. Under the revised guidelines, States and Union Territories (UTs) can now allocate greater funds to water conservation and micro-irrigation projects as per their local priorities and requirements.
Prepared by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, the new policy focuses on maximizing the use of every drop of water. It empowers states to design localized water storage and conservation projects, ensuring a sustainable supply of irrigation water for farmers throughout the year.
The revised framework includes projects such as farm ponds (diggies), rainwater harvesting systems, and micro-irrigation infrastructure. These initiatives will not only benefit individual farmers but also be developed for community-level use, creating a model for collective water management in rural areas.
Previously, the allocation under the “Other Interventions” category was capped at 20% of total funds for general states and 40% for Northeastern, Himalayan states, and Union Territories like Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
Now, the government has introduced greater flexibility, allowing states to exceed these limits based on local needs and priorities, thereby accelerating the implementation of effective water management projects.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, this new policy will help states innovate in water management, strengthen micro-irrigation systems, and enhance crop productivity. It will also ensure sustainable irrigation solutions in drought-prone and irregular rainfall regions, helping farmers reduce dependence on erratic monsoon patterns.
Government’s Vision: Making Water Conservation a Mass Movement:
Government aims to transform the ‘Per Drop More Crop’ scheme into a people-driven movement, ensuring optimum use of every drop of water and securing long-term water availability for agriculture and rural livelihoods.
Holds High-Level Meeting:
Following the policy launch, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired a high-level meeting at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi. The meeting focused on strategies to strengthen and make Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) more impactful across the country. Senior officials including Agriculture Secretary Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi and ICAR Director General Dr. M.L. Jat were present during the discussion.
New Direction for Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs): The Minister emphasized that India currently has 731 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), which play a crucial role in technology dissemination, training, and agricultural innovation. He highlighted the need to expand and reinforce the KVK network, describing it as the most effective medium for connecting farmers with modern technologies and scientific farming practices.
