BharatNotes What is Micro-Irrigation (Drip & Sprinkler)?
Micro-irrigation delivers water directly and precisely to the crop root zone under low pressure, sharply reducing the conveyance and evaporation losses typical of flood or furrow irrigation. The two dominant systems are:
- Drip irrigation — water (and dissolved nutrients, called fertigation) drips slowly through a network of pipes and emitters placed at the plant base. Best suited to widely-spaced row crops, orchards and vegetables.
- Sprinkler irrigation — water is sprayed over the field in a rain-like pattern through nozzles/rotors. Suited to closely-spaced crops, undulating terrain and sandy soils.
Key Features and Benefits
Field studies and All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) data indicate water savings of roughly 30-70% and crop-yield increases of about 26-45% under drip fertigation, alongside reduced fertiliser use, lower weed growth and energy savings. Precise root-zone delivery makes these systems valuable in water-scarce and dryland regions.
Government Support Framework
| Element | Detail (verified) |
|---|---|
| Lead scheme | Per Drop More Crop (PDMC), under PMKSY |
| PMKSY 2021-26 outlay | Rs 93,068 crore (CCEA approval, Dec 2021) |
| Administrative shift | PDMC implemented under PMKSY from 2015-16 to 2021-22; under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) from 2022-23 |
| Subsidy | 55% for small & marginal farmers; 45% for other farmers |
| Dedicated fund | Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) under NABARD |
| MIF corpus | Rs 5,000 crore (created 2018-19, operationalised 2019-20), augmented by a further Rs 5,000 crore |
| MIF continuation | Approved for the 15th Finance Commission period by Union Cabinet on 3 October 2024; interest subvention revised to 2% (from 3%) |
The MIF supplements PDMC by helping State Governments mobilise resources and offer top-up incentives to farmers beyond the standard PDMC subsidy.
Current Status
An area of about 96.83 lakh hectare had been covered under micro-irrigation through PDMC from 2015-16 to August 2025 — comprising roughly 46.37 lakh ha under drip and 50.60 lakh ha under sprinkler (PDMC coverage data). Under the MIF route specifically, NABARD had sanctioned about Rs 4,719.10 crore, supporting micro-irrigation over 21.69 lakh hectare (as of 31 May 2025).
UPSC Angle
Micro-irrigation sits at the intersection of agriculture (GS3), water resources and sustainable development. Examiners test the institutional architecture (which component, which fund, which agency), the economics (subsidy design, fertigation, input savings) and the policy rationale (groundwater stress, water-use efficiency, climate-resilient and dryland farming). A strong answer connects micro-irrigation to the broader goals of doubling farmers' income, judicious groundwater use and the food-water-energy nexus, while noting adoption barriers — high upfront cost for smallholders, clogging/maintenance issues, and uneven State uptake.
