CHANDIGARH: Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Saturday that financial assistance of Rs. 179.39 crore has been provided to 19,517 beneficiaries of 58,000 acres of land for drip, mini-sprinkler and portable-sprinkler micro-irrigation systems.
Thus, the farmers should take maximum benefits of water conservation schemes, said the chief minister while interacting with the beneficiaries of Micro Irrigation and Command Area Development Authority (MICADA) during a virtual Samvad programme in Chandigarh.
The chief minister not only interacted with the beneficiaries but also took feedback on the schemes. Many beneficiaries praised the schemes of the government as well as the efforts being made for water conservation.
Micro irrigation system invaluable for farming
The chief minister said that various schemes are being run through MICADA for water conservation along with rational and economical use of available water. He said that the Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi has started the scheme of ‘Prati Boond-Adhik Fasal’. “The focus is on increasing water use efficiency at the farm level through micro-irrigation i.e. drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. Micro irrigation systems are invaluable for farming. With this, there is a considerable increase in the area irrigated from the same source of water,” he asserted.
The chief minister said that the government is providing assistance at the rate of 70 percent to individual applicants and 85 percent to members of farmer groups on construction of reservoirs in the farm itself. “Drip, mini-sprinkler and portable sprinkler micro-irrigation systems are being promoted in the state. MICADA has been given the task of increasing micro-irrigation and making ponds and paving canals for rainwater harvesting in the fields,” he added.
Rs 19 crore to 11,284 beneficiaries of Atal Bhujal Yojana
The chief minister said that under the Atal Bhujal Yojana, farmers in 1,656 villages of the state are being sent 15 percent reimbursement amount of their share directly to their accounts through DBT. “So far, Rs 19 crore has been transferred to the accounts of 11,284 beneficiaries. Up to 95 percent more area is irrigated with the same amount of water through micro-irrigation systems and along with this, up to 48 percent water is saved,” he added.
He said that the farmers who have adopted micro-irrigation in the state have increased the yield of fruits and vegetables by 52 percent. Along with this, Rs 54.90 crore has been released to 2,185 beneficiaries and Rs 64 crore has been released to 2,584 other beneficiaries for making reservoirs in the farm itself.
The chief minister said that more water is consumed in the sugarcane crop and now the farmers are gradually adopting micro irrigation. “This will help in saving water as well as good yield,” he said; asking the beneficiaries to take benefits of these schemes related to water conservation and make other farmers aware about it.
