Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) Scheme (Government Schemes & Initiatives)
Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) Scheme (Government Schemes & Initiatives)
Why In News:
The progress of the Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme was recently highlighted, which promotes water-efficient micro-irrigation, at a time when India faces the paradox of being water-stressed while using the bulk of its freshwater for agriculture.
Scheme and Key Features
Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, operational since 2015–16.
It was initially implemented as a component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and was brought under the PM-RKVY framework from 2022–23.
The scheme promotes micro-irrigation, particularly drip and sprinkler irrigation, to improve water-use efficiency at the farm level.
Financial assistance is provided at 55% of the indicative unit cost for small and marginal farmers and 45% for other farmers.
Assistance is available for a maximum area of 5 hectares per beneficiary, with the same land becoming eligible again after 7 years.
Priority is given to water-scarce and groundwater-stressed regions, linking irrigation efficiency with sustainable water management.
Coverage and Agricultural Significance
As of July 2026, more than 115 lakh hectares had been brought under micro-irrigation through PDMC.
Around 12.30 lakh farmers have benefited, with women accounting for nearly one-fifth of beneficiaries.
Major states in terms of micro-irrigation coverage include Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Micro-irrigation delivers water more efficiently and can reduce water losses through evaporation, runoff and excessive application.
Fertigation becomes easier with micro-irrigation, allowing dissolved fertilisers to be delivered closer to the plant root zone and improving nutrient-use efficiency.
Fertigation: It refers to the application of water-soluble fertilisers through an irrigation system, allowing nutrients to reach the crop root zone along with irrigation water.
Micro-Irrigation and Water-Use Efficiency
a) Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigation supplies water through emitters directly or near the root zone of crops, enabling precise application of water and nutrients.
It is particularly useful for water-intensive horticultural and row crops and areas facing water scarcity.
b) Sprinkler Irrigation
Sprinkler irrigation distributes water through pressurised pipes and sprinklers in the form of droplets, broadly simulating rainfall.
It is suitable for crops and terrains where uniform surface application through conventional flooding is less efficient.
Micro Irrigation Fund
The Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) is a dedicated fund to support States in expanding drip and sprinkler irrigation and promoting efficient water use in agriculture.
Corpus: The fund has a corpus of ₹10,000 crore to finance micro-irrigation projects beyond the regular Central Government allocations.
Interest Rate: States can avail loans at an interest rate 2% lower than the cost of funds, with the difference provided by the Central Government as interest subvention.
Repayment Period: Loans are repayable within 7 years, including a 2-year grace period.
Nodal Agency: The fund is implemented through NABARD under the overall framework of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.