Micro-irrigation for hills: drying up of groundwater and salt accumulation in the soil due to

inadequate irrigation with saline water problems are often caused by

The cultivation of horticultural crops is more remunerative on the small irrigated agriculture in arid lands. Two methods seem to be effective to
terraces of upland areas, due to favourable climatic conditions. However, avoid those problems. One is to irrigate crop with drip irrigation with
due to the non-availability of irrigation water, farmers grow rainfed cereals limited water and the other is to drain the excess water away. These factors
with very low yields. A check basin irrigation method involving high water make it critical that use of drip irrigation system to deliver water at the root
losses is commonly used in the valley areas. Plant-to-plant hand watering, zone of plants in order to maximize survival and growth.
as used on a small scale in water-scarce upland areas, is commonly used
water application method, but it requires a huge amount of labour. Drip Micro-irrigation for coastal lands:
irrigation can replace the hand watering system with minimum water losses
and labour. Due to topographical advantages, the gravitational head may be Coastal regions have problems of cultivating crops due to excess
used to operate the system, thus eliminating the initial and operational cost amount of salts in these regions. Research experiments have been conducted
of pumping. Different aspects of the design of drip irrigation systems for the to store fresh rainwater in ponds and use this water for irrigating crops with
relative effects of hydraulic design, manufacturer’s variation, grouping of drip system. Cultivation of short duration vegetable crops and salt tolerant
emitters, and plugging. However, these designs are developed for plain crops are found to be successful in these areas.
areas and the high water pressure is built up by pumping. Some
modifications in the design criteria are essential in order to design drip Micro-irrigation for wastelands:
irrigation systems on hilly terraces. Most of the conventionally available
long path turbulent flow emitters require an operating water pressure head Wasteland is an important land resource for agriculture and the area
of 10 m or more for optimum performance. Additional pressure head is where salt-affected soil is widely distributed is usually abundant in
required to meet the friction losses in different components of the system, resources of light and heat, and therefore has great potential to develop
whereas the elevation difference between two adjacent terraces mostly agriculture. Soil salinization is one of factors of soil degradation in the
ranges between 0.5 and 5.0 m. This pressure was found to be insufficient to world, and it tends to become increasingly serious. The formation of salt-
operate the system using turbulent flow emitters. Bhatnagar et al. (1998) affected soil is not only related to soil parent materials, climate, and
obtained low emission uniformity (64–72%) for emitter operating at topography, but also induced by anthropogenic activities particularly
pressure head of 4.0–6.5 m. However, replacing the emitters with improper irrigation and drainage. Inappropriate irrigation leads to ground
microtubes (1.0 mm diameter) improved the emission uniformity to 94– water table rise and makes the salts to get accumulated on the upper soil
98% for the same conditions. Another problem encountered is the large layer through capillary rise. Drip irrigation was thought to be an effective
variation in emitter discharge, as the system has to be laid on several method to reclaim salt-affected soil. Many research results showed that the
terraces having varying elevations, sizes and slopes, and irregular shapes. leaching efficiency with drip irrigation was higher than other irrigation
methods (Bresler et al. 1982). The distribution of soil water and salts under
Micro-irrigation for arid lands: drip irrigation is beneficial for crop growth. The soil water content in the
inner of wetted volume is higher than that in the outer where salts
Establishing plants in arid lands is a challenging task even with accumulate. The key issue of the salt-affected soils reclamation using drip
supplemental irrigation. The low relative humidity, extreme temperatures, irrigation is that a reasonable irrigation regime needs to be made to ensure
lack of consistent rainfall, tremendous rate of evaporation, and high wind not only the normal crop growth but also surplus water for salts leaching.
speeds common in desert environments all play important and interrelated
roles in water loss from soil and plants. Deterioration of water quality,
Financial Assistance under National Mission on Micro Irrigation At least 33% of the allocation is to be utilized for small, marginal
and women farmers. The allocation to SC/ST farmers will be
India is an agrarian country. Water management is of critical importance to proportionate to their population in the district. Farmers who have
Indian agriculture. While the irrigated area in the country has almost already availed the benefit of subsidy can again avail subsidy after
doubled since independence, it is believed that the irrigated area cannot 10 years.
exceed 50% of the cultivable area with the conventional methods of
irrigation even if the irrigation potential is fully utilized. To address the The assistance for MI demonstrations, to be taken in farms
judicious and improved methods / technologies for harnessing maximum belonging to State/Central Governments, State Agricultural
benefits from available water resources to enhance crop productivity Universities (SAUs) and ICAR Institutions, progressive farmers and
without affecting soil health. The scheme on Micro- Irrigation, which was Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO)/Trusts, on their own land
launched during the year 2005-06, has been upscaled to be implemented as will be @ 75% of the cost for a maximum area of 0.5 ha per
the ‘National Mission on Micro-irrigation’ (NMMI) during XI Plan period. beneficiary, which will be met entirely by the Central Government.
The main objectives of NMMI are: Assistance will be available for both drip and sprinkler irrigation for
wide spaced as well as close spaced crops. However, assistance for
 To increase the area under micro-irrigation through improved sprinkler irrigation system will be available only for those crops
technologies. where drip irrigation is uneconomical. Assistance is also available
for irrigation systems for protected cultivation including
 To enhance the water use efficiency.
greenhouses, polyhouses and shadenet houses. Assistance is
 To increase the productivity of the crops and farmers’ income. available for implementation of advanced technology like fertigation
with fertilizer tank / venture systems, sand filters / media filters,
 To establish convergence and synergy among ongoing Govt. hydrocyclone filters / sand separators and other different type of
programmes. filters and valves required for MI system.

 To promote, develop and disseminate MI technology for agriculture The Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) are involved in selecting the
or horticulture development with modern scientific knowledge. beneficiaries. The scheme includes both drip and sprinkler irrigation.
However, sprinkler irrigation will be applicable only for those crops
 To create employment opportunities for skilled and unskilled person where drip irrigation is uneconomical. There will be a strong HRD
especially unemployed youth input for the farmers, field functionaries and other stake holders at
different levels. Besides, this there is provision for be publicity
This is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under which out of the total campaigns, seminars/workshops at extensive locations to develop
cost of the MI System, 40% will be borne by the Central skills and improve awareness among farmers about importance of
Government, 10% by the State Government and the remaining 50% water conservation and management. The Precision Farming
will be borne by the beneficiary, either through his/her own Development Centres (PFDCs) provide research and technical
resources or soft loan from financial institutions. Assistance for support for implementing the scheme. Supply of good quality
beneficiary farmers will be for covering a maximum area of 5ha/ system both for drip and sprinkler irrigation having BIS marking,
beneficiary. proper after sales services to the satisfaction of the farmer is
paramount.
 At the National Level, the Executive Committee of NMMI reviews
12 x 12 8057 13785 18820 29928 46467 57809 73611
the progress of NMMI and approve the Annual Action Plans of
States. At the State level, the State Micro-irrigation Committee
(SMIC) woversees the implementation of the Mission programme in 100 x
districts. The District Micro-irrigation Committee (DMIC) 8308 14277 20041 32323 50128 62787 79831
10
coordinates the implementation of NMMI programme at the District
level. NCPAH coordinates and monitor the programme of NMMI in
different States. 9x9 8490 14631 20900 34039 52704 66294 84219

The scheme is implemented by an Implementing Agency (IA)

appointed by the State Government, which will be the District Rural 8x8 8673 15088 22028 36217 56087 70893 89964
Development Agencies (DRDA) or any identified Agency, to whom
funds will be released directly on the basis of approved district plans
for each year. 6x6 9492 16605 26551 44387 71715 86970 109129

The IA shall prepare the Annual Action Plan for the State on the
basis of the district plans and get it forwarded by SMIC for approval 5x5 10061 17977 30143 51438 74334 94465 126925
of the Executive Committee (EC) of NMMI. Payment is made
through RTGS to the IA who transfers funds to the identified
4x4 11177 18621 31793 55725 86926 113812 135459
districts. DMIC provides funds to the system suppliers through the
farmers’ / beneficiaries’. Registration of System Manufacturers will
be done by the SMIC for use in the Districts. 3x3 12088 20048 36551 63269 97448 122553 153441
Micro-irrigation systems costs have been standardized upon which
the subsidy amount is being calculated, as stated in Tables 3.1, 3.2, 2.5 x
3.3, 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6. 14939 27092 52230 95083 145227 203823 248954
2.5
Table 3.1 Indicative cost of installing drip irrigation system for
calculation of subsidy 12344
2x2 18319 31616 63598 179332 249134 305797
1
Cost in Rs./ha
B. Close spaced Crops
Lateral
Spacing 0.2 0.4 1 2 3 4 5
(m x m) 1.5 x 14185
21514 35973 74437 211855 292595 360002
1.5 8
2.5 x 10090 2 129830 139142
15463 26791 54909 154213 214153 262885
0.6 6

3 175315 211289
1.8 x 13265
18807 32909 70086 199684 271986 338705
0.6 3
4 221628 271958

1.2 x 18556
24063 43816 97598 2800886 378946 474070 5 221628 333150
0.6 5

Table 3.2 Indicative cost of micro sprinkler and mini sprinkler Table 3.3 Indicative cost of drip irrigation/fogging/misting
irrigation system system under protected cultivation

Cost in Rs Cost in Rs. per unit)

Micro Sprinkler Mini Sprinkler SN Particulars 504 Sqm 100 Sqm

Spacing of Sprinkler (m x m) Green House / Poly House

Area (ha)
1. a) High Cost 55,000 21,000
5x5 10 x 10
b) Naturally Ventialted

0.2 17019 Not Feasible

2. Shadenet 45,000 18,000

0.4 51245 35968

1 90070 74097
 Table 3.4 Indicative cost of portable sprinkler irrigation system
0.4 ha – 1 ha 31832

Area 63 mm 75 mm 90 mm
1 ha – 2 ha 60699

Up to 0.4 ha 10399 NA NA
2 ha – 3 ha 81929

More Than 0.4 ha – 1

16993 19044 NA 3 ha – 4 ha 104689
ha

More Than1 ha – 2 4 ha – 5 ha 127003

24533 27280 NA
ha

More Than 2 ha – 3 Table 3.6 Indicative cost of large volume sprinklers (rain guns)
NA NA 36822
ha
Cost in Rs.
More Than 3 ha – 4
NA NA 46438
ha
Area 63 mm 75 mm 90 mm

More Than 4 ha – 5
Na NA 52573 More Than 0.4 ha – 1 ha 24940 30011 NA
ha

More Than 1.0 ha – 2 ha NA 38075 NA

Table 3.5 Indicative cost of semi-permanent sprinkler irrigation
system More Than 2.0 ha – 3 ha NA NA 54112

Area Cost (in Rs.)

More Than 3.0 ha – 4 ha NA NA 62720

Up to 0.4 ha 19615
More Than 4.0 ha – 5 ha NA NA 68878
 (Source: Guidelines, NMMI) iii) Projects shall be appraised to ensure and enable entrepreneur to
incorporate essential hitech components in the form of planting
The total cost of the scheme is being shared between Central material, plantation, irrigation, fertigation, vermicompost unit,
Government, the State Government and the beneficiary either precision farming, on farm PHM related infrastructure, GAP etc.;
through his/her own resources or soft loan from financial institutions and to that extent, the project shall be integrated in nature.
in the ratio of 40%, 10% and 50% respectively. Bankable schemes
are being formulated for availing bank loans. iv) Normative cost of various components shall be prescribed by
NHB.
3.2 Financial support from National Bank for Agriculture and
Rural Development (NABARD) v) NHB provides financial assistance for creating irrigation
infrastructure for digging bore well to a maximum ceiling of Rs.
Broad guidelines for scheme formulation by banks for financing drip 4.00 lakh per unit maximum upto two units.
irrigation systems are available at NABARD. The loans are
available to farmers from different banks, through NABARD. Some vi) Expenses towards sprinkler system upto 10 Acres with maximum
cooperative societies and IFFCO also provide finances required for ceiling of 1.0 lakh for installation drip system upto 2.0 lakh.
the initial installation of the micro-irrigation system.
References:
3.3 Financial Assistance from National Horticulture Board
(NHB) http://www.ncpahindia.com/nmmi/Guidelines-NMMI.pdf

National Horticulture Board (NHB) also has a scheme to assist Suggested Reading:
farmers in increasing the produce of horticultural crops. It also
includes financial assistance for micro-irrigation. The pattern of National Mission on Micro-Irrigation operational guidelines,
assistance of NHB is credit linked back-ended subsidy @ 20% of Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India, 2010
the total project cost limited to Rs 25 lakh per project in general area
and Rs 30.00 lakh in NE Region, Hilly and scheduled areas.

The terms and conditions of the assistance of NHB are as follows:

i) The assistance shall be available for projects covering area above

four hectares (above 10 acres) in case of open field cultivation in
general area and 5 acres in NE, hilly/scheduled area.

ii) Credit component as means of finance of the project should be

term loan from banking or non-banking financial institutions and
should be at least 35% (i.e. 15% more than the admissible rate of
subsidy.)