Context:
Recently, latest edition of the Minor Irrigation Census (MIC) released by Ministry of Jal Shakti finds that electricity is the dominant source of power to extract water, over diesel, windmills, and solar pumps.
Minor Irrigation scheme:
- A type of irrigation project that uses surface water or groundwater to irrigate a culturable command area (CCA) of up to 2,000 hectares.
- 2 major categories –
- Ground Water (GW) schemes: Dugwells, shallow tube wells, medium tube wells, and deep tube wells.
- Surface Water (SW) schemes: Consists of surface flow and surface lift schemes.
- Benefits – Controlled and timely irrigation, labour intensive, less implementation period etc.
CCA is an area which can be irrigated from a scheme and is fit for cultivation.
Key Highlights of the Census:
- In India, there have been a reported total of 23.14 million minor irrigation schemes, with 94.8% (21.93 million) being groundwater schemes and 5.2% (1.21 million) being surface water schemes.
- Share of MI Schemes: Dug-wells > shallow tube-wells > medium tube-wells > deep tube-wells.
- Leading States in MI Schemes: Uttar Pradesh > Maharashtra > Madhya Pradesh > Tamil Nadu
- Ownership:Around 96.6% of MI schemes are under private ownership.
Source: The Hindu
Related Scheme
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana:
- Centrally Sponsored Scheme (Core Scheme) launched in 2015.
- Implemented by – Ministry of Jal Shakti
- 3 main components – Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP) and Watershed Development
- Sub components – Command Area Development (CAD), Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI), Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies, Ground Water Development.
- Objectives –
- Convergence of investments in irrigation at the field level.
- To expand the cultivable area under assured irrigation (Har Khet ko pani).
- To improve on-farm water use efficiency to reduce wastage of water.
- To enhance the adoption of precision-irrigation and other water saving technologies (More crop per drop).
- To enhance recharge of aquifers and introduce sustainable water conservation practices by exploring the feasibility of reusing treated municipal based water for peri-urban agriculture and attract greater private investment in a precision irrigation system.
- Formulated by amalgamation of –
- Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) – Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (now Ministry of Jal Shakti).
- Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) – Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development.
- On-Farm Water Management (OFWM) – Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC).
Terms & Definitions
- An aquifer is a body of porous rock or sediment saturated with groundwater. Groundwater enters an aquifer as precipitation seeps through the soil. It can move through the aquifer and resurface through springs and wells.
- Peri-urban agriculture refers to farm units close to town which operate intensive semi- or fully commercial farms to grow vegetables and other horticulture, raise chickens and other livestock, and produce milk and eggs.
- Precision Irrigation is an innovative technique that uses water wisely and helps farmers achieve higher levels of crop yield in a minimal amount of water.
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I:
According to the United Nations ‘World Water Development Report, 2022’, India extracts more than quarter of the world’s groundwater withdrawal each year.
Statement-II:
India needs to extract more than a quarter of the World’s groundwater each year to satisfy the drinking water and sanitation needs of almost 18% of world’s population living in its territory.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
Answer: (c)
