Subject: Economy

India's water crisis, characterized by depleting groundwater and irregular rainfall patterns, necessitates innovative solutions like micro-irrigation which has emerged as a sustainable approach to optimize agricultural water usage while ensuring food security.

Benefits of Micro-irrigation in Addressing Water Crisis

Water Conservation and Efficiency

• Demonstrates significant water savings of 16.43% to 85.81% in Maharashtra through precise water application and reduced evaporation losses.
• Achieves 15% water savings in wheat cultivation in Gujarat with a corresponding 21% yield increase compared to traditional flood irrigation methods.
• Enables targeted water delivery directly to plant roots, minimizing wastage and maximizing absorption efficiency.

Economic Benefits

• Results in cost reductions of 25-40% in operational expenses including seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides.
• Shows consistently positive benefit-cost ratios, indicating enhanced income potential for farmers.
• Increases crop yields by 20-90% depending on crop variety and local conditions.

Government Support and Implementation

• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) provides substantial subsidies for micro-irrigation system installation.
• Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) component has covered 95.58 lakh hectares between 2015-16 and 2024.
• Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) through NABARD facilitates state-level expansion of micro-irrigation projects.

Challenges and Limitations

Implementation Barriers

• High initial installation costs deter small and marginal farmers.
• Technical complexity requires specialized knowledge and training.
• Limited access to credit facilities hampers widespread adoption.

Coverage Gaps

• Only 83.46 lakh hectares covered under micro-irrigation (2015-16 to 2023-24).
• 52% (73 million hectares) of gross sown area has irrigation access, indicating significant potential for expansion.

The transformative potential of micro-irrigation in addressing India's water crisis is evident through successful implementations in states like Maharashtra and Gujarat. However, achieving comprehensive coverage requires addressing implementation challenges through enhanced financial support, technical training, and institutional mechanisms.