Introduction:
Irrigation plays a vital role in driving both agricultural prosperity and economic advancement within a nation. Technological innovations, particularly in micro-irrigation, are essential for fostering sustainable agriculture. Despite its significance, a study reveals a mere 5.5% penetration of micro-irrigation in India, well below global standards, emphasizing the urgent need for widespread adoption.
Body:
Irrigation’s Role in Agricultural and Economic Growth:
- Increased Agricultural Productivity: Widespread irrigation contributes to enhanced agricultural productivity. In the 2022-23 fiscal year, India’s total food grain production reached approximately 305 million metric tons, a direct result of irrigation.
- Contribution to GDP: Agriculture’s substantial contribution to India’s GDP, around 18.3%, is significantly influenced by effective irrigation, as highlighted in the Economic Survey 2022-23.
- Crop Diversification: Successful crop diversification, especially in states with well-developed irrigation infrastructure like Punjab and Haryana, is facilitated by irrigation, allowing farmers to cultivate multiple crops in a year.
- Employment Generation: Agriculture employs about 42.5% of India’s workforce, contributing significantly to rural livelihoods, with irrigation playing a pivotal role, as per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2022-23.
- Water Use Efficiency: The adoption of micro-irrigation systems contributes to improved water use efficiency, a critical aspect of sustainable agriculture.
- Rural Development: Irrigation projects like Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) play a vital role in rural development by providing stable livelihoods for farmers and enhancing irrigation efficiency.
- Food Security: Ensuring a reliable water supply for crops through irrigation is instrumental in upholding India’s commitment to food security, as reflected in the National Food Security Act, 2013.
Benefits of Micro-Irrigation Technology:
- Optimized Water Use: Micro-irrigation ensures high water use efficiency, ranging from 50-90%, by minimizing conveyance losses, runoff, evaporation, seepage, and deep percolation losses.
- Energy Efficiency: Low flow rate requirements enable the use of small wells as water sources, resulting in energy savings of up to 30.5%.
- Increased Crop Productivity: Implementation of micro-irrigation technology significantly boosts crop yields, with productivity increases up to 42.4% for crops and fruits and up to 52.7% for vegetables.
- Focused Water Management: Micro-irrigation enables precise and judicious water use, directly contributing to increased farmers’ income.
- Reduction in Energy Consumption and Agrochemicals: Micro-irrigation systems play a role in reducing overall energy consumption and the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Challenges in Micro-Irrigation Implementation:
- Administrative Inefficiencies: Integration of micro-irrigation into the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) under PMKSY has led to administrative inefficiencies.
- Lack of Clear Technical Guidelines: The absence of reliable guidelines and delays in government orders have hindered the smooth execution of micro-irrigation projects, contributing to uncertainty among stakeholders.
- Reduction in Subsidy Support: A reduction in subsidy support from 50% to 35% and a decline in fund allocation under various schemes have impacted the availability of government funds for micro-irrigation installations.
- Financial Constraints: Farmers face difficulties in obtaining necessary financial support for adopting micro-irrigation technology, with reduced budgets reported during the period of 2013-2016.
- Energy Accessibility: Accessibility of electricity remains a constraint for many farmers, limiting the feasibility of widespread adoption of micro-irrigation, especially for large-scale projects.
- Lack of Awareness Limited awareness among farmers about the benefits and proper implementation of micro-irrigation technology hinders its widespread adoption.
Way Forward for Promoting Micro-Irrigation in India:
- Reinforce Emphasis on Efficient Technologies: Strengthen the promotion of efficient technologies and water use efficiency within the on-farm water management component of NMSA.
- Expand “Per Drop More Crop” Scheme: Continue implementing and expanding the “Per Drop More Crop” scheme, focusing on comprehensive water development and management, with micro-irrigation retained as an integral component.
- Government Initiatives and Awareness Programs: Continue the implementation of various government initiatives aimed at promoting micro-irrigation, including conducting training and awareness programs for farmers.
- Multi-Channel Awareness Campaigns: Utilize multi-channel awareness campaigns, including print media, radio, and TV talks, to disseminate information regarding the benefits of micro-irrigation, ensuring farmers are well-informed.
- Workshops and Capacity-Building: Organize workshops, seminars, and interactive meetings to facilitate capacity-building among farmers, extension workers, and other stakeholders.
- Publicity Campaigns and Exhibitions: Conduct publicity campaigns through exhibitions, fairs, and Kisan Melas to showcase the practical aspects of micro-irrigation.
- Literature and Visual Communication: Continue the publication of literature that educates farmers on the principles, installation, and maintenance of micro-irrigation systems. Use visual communication to effectively convey positive outcomes and encourage widespread adoption.
Conclusion:
Promoting sustainable agriculture through effective irrigation technologies, especially micro-irrigation, is crucial for India’s agricultural growth. Addressing challenges and implementing targeted strategies, including government support, awareness programs, and efficient resource allocation, can pave the way for widespread adoption, ensuring water use efficiency and inclusive growth in the agricultural sector.
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