Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY): Online Application, Eligibility, Benefits

Water scarcity is a global issue that is being addressed by the state. The demand for water is increasing every day. The government has taken various measures to create awareness among people about the efficient use of water. Increase in population, change in lifestyle are a couple of reasons for water scarcity. Indian government with a view to educate people on using water more efficiently has developed schemes and policies

One such initiative taken by the state is PMKSY, a national scheme to increase farm production by adopting sustainable use of water resources. This yojana was launched in the year 2015 with the motive to increase cultivable land in India by affirming irrigation facilities. “Har Khet Ko Pani” and “More crop per drop” has been the motto for PMKSY.

Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) by the ministry of water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation, Integrated watershed management program and On-farm water management were four existing scheme that was merged to form PMKSY.  This scheme whole purpose was to improve and cultivate water saving techniques to increase cultivation land.

Ministry of agriculture, water resources, and rural development have come together to enforce PMKSY nationwide. The duties of each ministry are clearly divided. The rural development ministry will undertake the task of water conversion, like rainwater harvesting, building, and management of dams, ponds, and canals, etc. On the other hand water resources mainly focus on assured irrigation sources like diversion canals and field canals. Finally, the ministry of agriculture duty is transporting water by utilizing devices like drips, sprinklers and rain guns.

The best part of the scheme is that three different ministries are working together to effectively implement the scheme by sticking to their respective duties.

What are the objectives of the scheme PMKSY?

The main objectives of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana are as follows:

• Merging of investment on irrigation at the grass root level. This objective may be achieved by g by formulating water plans at district and sub-district levels of a state.
• The next important objective of the scheme is assured irrigation. When farmers are affirmed of irrigation facilities by the government they would be motivated to undertake agriculture, which leads to an increase in cultivable lands. The scheme assures to increase physical access to farmers for their respective farms.
• The scheme aims at enforcing the best use of water resources by integrating it and distributing it in a way that promotes efficient water usage practice. In order to achieve this end, the scheme aims to take the aid of technologies.
• The best way to ensure water is available in farmlands for longer duration is by reducing wastage. Keeping this in view the state has developed PMKSY.
• To increase awareness among the farmers about precise irrigation and technology that helps in water saving.
• Sustainable development is the need of the time; PMKYS also enforces this idea by promoting sustainable water use and conservation.
• Approaching watershed techniques towards soil and water conservation by arresting run-off water.
• Increase activities among farmers and gross root level field agents on water harvesting and management along with crop alignment.
• Additionally, explore the option of reusing treated municipal wastewater in peri-urban agriculture and attract private individuals or companies to invest in irrigation facilities.

What are the components of PMKSY?

PMKSY is composed of different components, but each of these aspects more for the betterment of irrigation and water conservation in India. The scheme is composed of four important components namely:

• Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP): this component core focus is to complete the ongoing national irrigation projects both major and medium as fast as possible.]
• Har Khet KO Pani: the next component of PMKSY, a major aspect that focuses on water regeneration, management, and distribution. This end is achieved by creating new water sources both at surface and ground level by repairing or restoring of water bodies and construction of rainwater harvesting structure.

The component also focuses on water distribution by creating a strong network and by tapping into the resources that not utilized to its full capacity. And finally, creating a diversion for water sources by distribution it from the areas that have abundance to areas that are facing scarcity.

• Per Drop More Crop: as the name suggests this component mainly focuses on managing the program by preparing and monitoring state and district level irrigation plan. Construction of micro-irrigation and promoting efficient water distribution are major technique followed by the scheme.
• Watershed Development: effective measures to manage runoff water and increasing soil and moisture conservation by creating water sources and renovating the old ones. Apart from this, the component aims to create alternative livelihood support activities for people.

What are the eligibility criteria for Fund allocation under PMKSY?

A state in order to be eligible for fund allocation under PMKSY scheme is as follows:

1. Any given state in order to avail the benefits or funding help under PMKSY scheme must have prepared a district irrigation plan or state irrigation plan that is expected for the initial year of the project.
2. The next criteria for being eligible to access funds under the scheme the state expenditure on water resources development for the agriculture sector must not be less than baseline expenditure.
3. Finally, an additional weight age will be given to the states that are levying charges on electricity and water for irrigation purposes.

This being said the fund’s allocation in the state will be decided based on the following:

1. The percentage share of the unirrigated area including prominence area in the state versus the national average.
2. Increase in the percentage of expenditure on water resource development for the agriculture sector in the state plan expenditure for the previous three years,
3. And at last upgrade in irrigation efficiency in the state.

What is a district or state irrigation plan?

The mandatory requirement to receive funds under PMKSY by the state is preparing of district or state level irrigation plan. The plan is a standpoint medium that outlines all kinds of requirements of a state. The plan should include complete information on all available water resources including untapped and potential surface and groundwater system.

The next part of the plan must include the present level of water use efficiency and requirement of water for agriculture and other sectors. The plan must clearly state the estimated or projected requirement for the period planned and how to improve demand and supply gap based on sources and opportunities available.

The state can also take the help of technology and science in preparing the plan such as satellite imagery, and scientific database. The plan so prepared by the state may include more than one district but it needs to be segregated into different action plans for each district.

How to apply for PMKSY online?

The state that is eligible to receive funds under PMKSY offers various subsidies to the farmers living in the area. Each component of the scheme offers different subsidies that can be availed by the farmers by simply registering online.

Visit the official website of the state that and click on new registration ie .https://pmksy.gov.in/, enter all required details like pan and Aadhar number, check the details entered before clicking on submit button. After the application is submitted you will be given a registration number. This number is important as the subsidies can be applied online only by entering the registration number. At the time of registration, it is mandatory to upload self-attested documents to support the claim like bills, licenses, and certificates. Hence keep them handy. Enter the registration number, select the subsidy option and follow the instructions to get benefits.

Benefits of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana

The number of benefits that a state can achieve by successfully implementing Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana is huge. But few major benefits that the state can see on enforcing the scheme are:

1. Increase in irrigation facilities will better agriculture production. This will help in keeping the food prices under control that helps in maintaining the inflation under control.
2. Increased food production also results in surplus. The extra food or raw materials can be exported which increases the income and promotes foreign trade. Further, the surplus can, in fact, be stored for later use, thereby meeting the demands of the population in case of scarcity or bad production period.
3. Increased in agriculture production or cultivable lands have an effect on the growth of other industries. Industries that are dependent on agriculture and its raw materials can develop by better production.
4. Further better production reduced the dependence of a state to import goods for other countries to meet the demand. By which these funds can be utilized elsewhere such as paying off international debt or infrastructure development.

Conclusion:

It is true that PMKSY plan is extremely useful and beneficial for all states but this is a nationwide scheme that has to overcome enormous challenges to be successful. Planning, development, and implementation will be effective only when the authority enforces it with due vigilance and takes appropriate action when they face fund shortages.