Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana - Objectives & Eligibility

A well‑irrigated farm can make the difference between a failed and a successful crop. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) works to ensure that every farm in India gets reliable access to water and modern irrigation solutions.

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What is PMKSY

• PMKSY is a national irrigation mission of the Government of India that aims to provide assured irrigation to agricultural fields across the country summarized in its slogan: “Har Khet Ko Pani” (Water to every field).
• The scheme brings together various existing irrigation or water‑management initiatives under a single umbrella to ensure integrated planning, efficient water use, and improved farm‑level irrigation infrastructure.
• Officially launched in 2015‑16, PMKSY merges efforts related to large/medium irrigation, small or minor irrigation, micro/precision irrigation, watershed development and water conservation to expand coverage and improve water‑use efficiency.

Key Objectives of PMKSY

PMKSY is built around a few broad but critical goals that target irrigation access, water conservation, and sustainability.

Among its main objectives are:

• Achieve convergence of investments in irrigation infrastructure at the field (farm) level ensuring district‑level and sub‑district‑level water‑use plans are formulated and implemented.
• Expand cultivable area under assured irrigation by improving physical access to water, so that more land becomes irrigable and agriculture becomes less dependent on erratic rainfall.
• Improve on‑farm water‑use efficiency, reducing wastage by integrating water sources, distribution system and farm‑level application, using appropriate technologies and practices.
• Promote precision‑ or micro‑irrigation (for example, drip irrigation, sprinkler systems) under the “produce more crop per drop” principle, thereby conserving water and improving yields.
• Ensure sustainable water conservation practices including recharge of aquifers, watershed development, rainwater harvesting and restoration/renovation of traditional water bodies to improve long‑term water availability.
• Encourage integrated and decentralized planning: enable states and districts to prepare area‑specific irrigation & water‑management plans, rather than a top‑down one‑size‑fits‑all approach.
• Facilitate protective irrigation ensuring that crops get water even during dry spells  and reduce risk for farmers dependent on monsoon.
• Promote efficient use of water through modern irrigation methods thereby helping agriculture become more resilient, boosting productivity and income of farmers.

Core Components of PMKSY

PMKSY comprises several major components/programmes each targeting a different dimension of irrigation, water management or resource conservation.

Some of the primary components:

• Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP):  Focus on fast-tracking completion of ongoing major and medium irrigation projects to expand irrigation coverage.

• Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP):  The “water to every field” initiative, aimed at providing protective irrigation through minor irrigation, minor water‑bodies restoration, surface & groundwater-based irrigation, command‑area development, etc.

• Under HKKP there are subcomponents like:

  • Minor irrigation (surface / groundwater)
  • Restoration, repair, and renovation (RRR) of existing water bodies and tanks to revive traditional irrigation / storage systems
  • Command Area Development & Water Management (CAD‑WM) improving distribution networks, field channels, irrigation efficiency

• Precision / Micro Irrigation / Water‑saving technologies:  Encouraging drip irrigation, sprinkler systems, other efficient water‑delivery methods to reduce wastage and increase yield per water drop.

• Water conservation, watershed development and aquifer recharge / sustainable water‑management practices To ensure long-term water security, sustainable irrigation and ground water replenishment.

By combining large/medium irrigation projects, small/local irrigation, water body renovation, watershed management and micro‑irrigation, PMKSY aims to address India’s water irrigation challenge in a comprehensive manner.

Who Is Eligible / Who Can Benefit from PMKSY

Because PMKSY is a supply‑side infrastructure/water‑management scheme, the “eligibility” is less about individual farmer application and more about whether a farmer’s land / area falls under a PMKSY‑implemented project / coverage zone. Generally:

• All farmers / cultivators who have agricultural land and wish to avail assured irrigation can benefit once their area is covered under PMKSY’s irrigation / micro‑irrigation / water‑management infrastructure.
• Small, marginal and large farmers PMKSY aims to cover all categories. The benefit of micro‑irrigation and subsidy schemes under PMKSY is often more significant for small and marginal farmers.
• Areas lacking reliable irrigation (rain‑fed, drought‑prone, or with limited rainfall) get priority for water‑source creation, watershed or tank‑restoration, and micro‑irrigation support.
• States, villages, rural blocks, districts as part of district‑level or state‑level irrigation / water‑use plans designed under PMKSY can implement PMKSY activities. Thus the “beneficiary” is often a region (district/block) rather than individual only.

Key Benefits for Farmers and Agriculture

PMKSY brings multiple benefits to farmers and Indian agriculture as a whole:

• Reliable water supply and irrigation access reduces dependency on monsoon ensures crop safety, reduces risk of crop failure due to drought or irregular rainfall.
• Increased cultivable area: lands which earlier remained unirrigated or rain‑fed can be brought under assured irrigation, increasing agricultural output and land utility.
• More efficient water use micro/precision irrigation systems help minimize water wastage, make each drop effective, reduce irrigation costs.
• Higher crop yield potential and better crop planning with assured water supply, farmers can adopt quality crops, horticulture, multiple cropping, or more water‑intensive but high‑value crops.
• Reduced burden on groundwater or over‑exploitation of resources due to integrated water‑management and recharge / conservation practices.
• Long‑term sustainability: restoration of traditional water bodies, watershed efforts, aquifer recharge ensuring water security for future generations.
• Support and subsidies for small / marginal farmers for irrigation equipment makes modern irrigation technology accessible even to financially weak farmers.
• Economic upliftment: improved yield, better water management, stability all contribute to higher income and stable rural livelihoods.

How PMKSY Works on Ground: Implementation Strategy

• PMKSY follows a decentralized approach: at state and district level, authorities prepare Water‑Use Plans or District/Block‑level irrigation/water management plans.
• Implementation involves building or renovating water sources (canals, tanks, check‑dams, wells), improving distribution networks, mapping command areas, installing micro‑irrigation systems.
• For precision irrigation (drip/sprinkler) and micro‑irrigation, subsidies or financial support may be offered to farmers (depending on state implementation) to lower the cost barrier.
• Integrated water management also includes measures like watershed development, rainwater harvesting, recharge of aquifers especially in rainfed or water‑scarce regions.
• Monitoring, geo‑tagging of projects, coordination between ministries (Water Resources / Jal Shakti, Agriculture, Rural Development) ensure that irrigation infrastructure, water conservation and farm‑level irrigation reach all relevant areas under the scheme.

Important Things to Know / What Scheme Is Not

• PMKSY does not guarantee that every farm in country will immediately get micro‑irrigation or water‑supply coverage depends on project implementation, regional water‑resource availability and the pace of state‑level rollout.
• Beneficiaries often need to apply or register under micro‑irrigation or water‑conservation sub‑schemes under PMKSY  mere existence of scheme does not automatically mean free water or free infrastructure for all.
• Subsidy / support level can vary across states or regions though central guidelines exist, actual benefit depends on state-level adoption and funding.
• Water‑resource management must be sustainable; over‑use of groundwater even under PMKSY may cause long‑term depletion sustainable practices (rainwater harvesting, recharge) are integral to scheme’s success.
• Farmers may need to contribute (labour, part cost, maintenance) PMKSY infrastructure must be maintained for long‑term effectiveness.