National Mission on Micro Irrigation

Micro Irrigation & National Mission on Micro Irrigation (NMMI)

A Centrally sponsored scheme on micro irrigation (MI) was launched in January 2006 for promoting water-use efficiency by adopting drip and sprinkler irrigation.

All States and Union Territories and all horticultural as well as agricultural crops are covered under the scheme.

The National Committee on Plasticulture Applications in Horticulture (NCPAH) provides the required technical guidance in association with Precision Farming Development Centers (PFDCs) at 22 locations.

The PRIs are involved in selecting the beneficiaries. Since its inception, about 10 lakh ha has been covered under drip and sprinkler irrigation and a sum of ` 1425.23 crore has been released as Government of India share (40 per cent of the total cost) in the scheme.

• The technology involves irrigating crops at the root zone as per the crop requirement comprising drip and sprinkler systems. This technology greatly enhances water use efficiency and can also be used for fertilizer application.
  
• Since the inception of the Scheme, an area of 17.92 lakh hectare has been brought under micro irrigation in 18 States by utilizing Rs.2013.39 crore as the central share.
  
• MIS comprises 40% as Central share, 10% as State Government share and 50% as the beneficiary’s share.
  

In June 2010, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the implementation of the existing Micro Irrigation Scheme (MIS) as the National Mission on Micro Irrigation (NMMI) during the Eleventh Plan period with an outlay of ` 8032.90 crore, of which ` 3409.26 crore will be contributed by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC) as Central share comprising 40% subsidy for general farmers and 50% subsidy for small and marginal farmers.

This decision has been taken on the basis of recommendations of a Task Force on Micro Irrigation constituted by the Government of India.

• This Mission will result in 2.85 million hectare to be brought under micro irrigation; savings in use of irrigation water, fertilizer and electricity; increase in production and productivity of crops; convergence with other ongoing schemes of DAC and other Ministries on creation of water harvesting structures and linking the same with Micro Irrigation system for higher water use efficiency and enhanced return to the farmers.