Per Drop More Crop

Per Drop More Crop is a centrally sponsored micro-irrigation scheme administered by The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) on 1st July 2015 (The financial year 2015-16) under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). The ‘More Crop Per Drop schemes to improve the efficiency of water use. In literal terms, the goal is to maximize crop yields with minimal water use.

The ‘Per drop more crop’ archetype paves a foundation to solve water-related issues by systematically increasing water productivity and conservation, especially in the agricultural sector, to free up water for other productive uses.

Candidates can visit the linked article and get the detailed list of government schemes in India, important for general awareness and current affairs section of various competitive exams.

Objectives of the Per Drop More Crop Scheme

Candidates appearing for UPSC 2023 or any other civil service examination should be aware of the main objectives of the Per Drop More Crop scheme-

1. Amplify water use efficiency in the country by expanding areas under micro-irrigation technologies.
2. Maximize the productivity of crops and the income of farmers through accurate water management.
3. Use micro-irrigation systems for promoting fertigation.
4. Encourage the use of micro-irrigation methods for water-intensive/high-demand crops like sugarcane, cotton, etc., and make sure that micro-irrigation technologies are widely used for other field crops.
5. Encourage micro-irrigation in blocks/districts with water scarcity/stress.
6. Wherever possible, link the river-lift/tube-well irrigation agenda with micro-irrigation techniques to maximize energy use both for water lifting irrigation.
7. Incorporate modern scientific knowledge into developing, promoting, and disseminating micro-irrigation technology for agriculture and horticulture.
8. Establish micro-irrigation systems as a source of employment for skilled and unskilled persons, notably the unemployed youth.
9. Converge existing programmes and schemes with ongoing projects, including solar energy integration into irrigation operations, creating a water source for its future use, etc.

Salient Features of Per Drop More Crop Scheme

Candidates are required to have substantial knowledge about the features of the scheme for the upcoming UPSC exam.

1. Per Drop More Crop of the Pradhan Mantri, Krishi Sinchayee Yojana is focused on water conservation at the farm level through sprinklers and drip irrigation. It also reduces low-tech irrigation fertilizer use, labour expenses, and input costs.
2. Per Drop More Crop adopts the architecture of the PMKSY framework. PMKSY guidelines establish the following broad structure.

Two-tier structure at the central level

1. National Steering Committee (NSC)
2. National Executive Committee (NEC)

Three-tier structure at state level

1. State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC)
2. Interdepartmental Working Group (IDWG)
3. District Level Implementation Committee (DLIC)
4. Through a mechanism of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), the benefit of the scheme is provided to the beneficiary. Aadhaar details need to be linked with the registration process on the website.
5. Beneficiaries under the micro-irrigation scheme avail assistance at 55% for small farmers and 45% for other farmers, which is met by both the Centre and the State in the ratio 60:40 for all states, other than the North Eastern and Himalayan states where the ratio is 90:10. For union territories, the central government grants 100% of the funding. However, each beneficiary will be entitled to a maximum subsidy of five hectares.
6. District Irrigation Plans (DIPs) provide a comprehensive overview of irrigation development in the district by integrating three components- distribution network, water use applications, water sources. The annual action plans for PER DROP MORE CROP will be based on DIPs and complemented by water sources established under PMKSY for overall development.

Facilities under PMKSY- Per Drop More Crop UPSC

Candidates must be well acquainted with the facilities under the More Crop Per Drop scheme. Government schemes are essential for UPSC exams, both prelims and mains.

1. Micro-Irrigation:

1. Drip Irrigation- Method of irrigating plants at the root zone using emitters fitted on pipes.
2. Sprinkler Irrigation- Water is sprinkled under pressure into the air in the form of rainfall through nozzles.

2. Other Interventions- Crop diversification, farm forestry, water lifting devices, secondary storage, micro-level water storage, etc.

You can know more about the topics asked in the exam by visiting the UPSC Syllabus page. For more articles refer to the links given in the table below: