Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated a Webinar on Micro Irrigation in Indian Agriculture. The webinar was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Speaking on the occasion Tomar said that the Government has set the target of covering 100 lakh ha in five years under micro-irrigation. In the year 2019-20, about 11 lakh farmers have benefited by the adoption of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems, he informed.
The Union Agriculture Minister said that the Government has created a dedicated Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) of Rs. 5000 crores with NABARD with the objective to facilitate States in mobilizing resources for expanding coverage of Micro Irrigation.
The Steering Committee of MIF and NABARD has sanctioned projects of Rs. 3805.67 crore for covering 12.53 lakh ha under MIF.
Tomar advised States to access MIF for incentivizing micro irrigation through an additional (top up) subsidy over and above the one available under PMKSY- PDMC for achieving the target.