Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) is a scheme introduced by the Indian government in 2015. It was developed with an aim to ensure water access to farmers, expand irrigable areas, improve water usage efficiency, and promote sustainable water conservation practices.
As a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (or Core Scheme), the expenditure share between Centre and States is set at a ratio of 75:25. However, the share changes to 90:10 for the north-eastern region and hilly states.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)’s Recent Decision
Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the inclusion of the Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project in Uttarakhand under PMKSY. The scheme also encompasses the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (PMKSY-AIBP). This project involves building a dam near Jamrani village by the River Gola, a tributary of the River Ram Ganga, which will supply water to the existing Gola Barrage and is envisaged to generate 14 MW of hydropower.
The Structure and Objectives of PMKSY
The scheme was rolled out with several objectives, including achieving investment convergence in irrigation at the field level, augmenting the physical access of water on farms, integrating water source and distribution for optimum usage, and enhancing the adoption of precision irrigation and other water-saving technologies. Other aims include promoting extension activities related to water harvesting, water management, and crop alignment for farmers and grass root level field functionaries.
Components of the PMKSY
The PMKSY operates through several key components:
1. Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP): Launched in 1996, this component focuses on accelerating the realization of irrigation projects that go beyond the resource capabilities of states.
2. Har Khet ko Pani (HKKP): This segment aims to create new water sources through Minor Irrigation and includes subcomponents like Command Area Development (CAD), Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI), Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies, and Ground Water Development.
3. Watershed Development: This aspect considers the effective management of runoff water and improved soil & moisture conservation activities such as ridge area treatment, drainage line treatment, rain water harvesting, in-situ moisture conservation, and other allied activities on a watershed basis.
Implementation of the PMKSY
The implementation of the PMKSY is decentralized through State Irrigation Plan and District Irrigation Plan. It was formulated by merging schemes such as the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), and On-Farm Water Management (OFWM).
Other Notable Agricultural Initiatives
Several other initiatives have been taken to support agriculture in India. These include Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER), National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), Sub-mission on AgroForestry (SMAF), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, AgriStack Digital Agriculture Mission, Unified Farmer Service Platform (UFSP), and the National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGP-A).