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Agricultural experts say that adopting micro irrigation technology reduces the cost of farming by 30 to 35 percent. Production capacity per acre also increases due to saving of water, labor and fertilizer. In the face of changing weather and irregular rainfall, this technology has become a safe option for farmers.
Sitamarhi: The coming year has brought great relief for Sitamarhi district of Bihar. The Horticulture Branch of the Agriculture Department has set a target of providing benefits to a total of 83 farmers of the district under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) in the year 2025-26. Under this scheme, 40 to 80 percent of the total cost will be given to farmers for installation of single borewell, sprinkler and other micro irrigation systems. Despite the large amount of cultivable land in the district, lack of irrigation facilities continues to affect production capacity. In such a situation, this scheme will be helpful in making farming more profitable especially for small and marginal farmers. The application process has been made completely online and the distribution of grants will be on first come, first served basis.
The Agriculture Department says that due to decline in groundwater level and traditional irrigation methods, farmers have to bear higher expenses. This expense can be significantly reduced by the use of modern micro irrigation systems. The department is organizing awareness camps in various panchayats to inform the farmers about the scheme, so that more and more farmers can avail the benefits. According to the horticulture officer, technical means like sprinkler and drip deliver controlled amount of water to the roots of the crops, due to which it is possible to save water up to 60 percent. In traditional methods, there is more wastage of water, whereas with micro irrigation, the crop gets both water and nutrients as required.
Agricultural experts say that adopting micro irrigation technology reduces the cost of farming by 30 to 35 percent. Production capacity per acre also increases due to saving of water, labor and fertilizer. In the face of changing weather and irregular rainfall, this technology has become a safe option for farmers. Many farmers said that if the government provides timely information about the schemes and keeps the process simple, then farming can be made more profitable. Adoption of modern irrigation technology will also have a positive impact on the rural economy.
The specialty of the scheme is that irrigation system can be installed even on half an acre of land, due to which small farmers will also be able to take advantage of modern technology. The department has claimed to make the process of application, approval and payment completely transparent. Farmers can apply online and can also contact the District Horticulture Office located at Sanyukt Krishi Bhawan, Murapur. District Horticulture Officer Shantanu Kumar has appealed to the farmers to apply within the stipulated period and not to delay, so that more and more farmers can take advantage of this important scheme.
