The Chhattisgarh Government has decided to follow the Gujarat model of drip and sprinkler irrigationpractices in the State. It is worth mentioning here that many villages in Gujarat have adopted 100 per cent drip and sprinkler irrigation systems to water crops. In June 2009, more than 93,000 farmers in Gujarat have adopted drip irrigation for their total 1.51 lakh hectare land. Drip irrigation system and inter-linking of 21 rivers of Gujarat for conservation of water has made it possible for record sugarcane cultivation in that State.
The Gujarat Green Revolution Company ltd (GGRC) is aimed to promote Micro Irrigation System (MIS) to the farmers of Gujarat as an implementing agency on behalf of Government of Gujarat (GoG) and Government of India (GoI) to bring 2nd Green Revolution in consonance with the 'Agriculture policy of Gujarat Vision 2010' so as to save water and energy, besides multiple benefits to improve agricultural productivity and farmer’s prosperity at large.
The Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation ltd (GAICl) and Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) adopts various programmes and schemes for the agriculture and horticulture segment for investments and other processing subsidies in the food processing sector. Agri implement service help is provided by the Gujarat Government for open pipelines and purchase of tractors, etc. Bio gas subsidies are offered with loan application, officials stated.
The Chhattisgarh State Seed and Agriculture Development Corporation will distribute drip and sprinklers to the State's farmers under the minor irrigation project, officials here stated. State Agriculture Department Additional principal secretary Ajay Singh presided over the Corporation's Board of Directors meeting on Friday when the decision on adopting the Gujarat model of drip and sprinklers irrigation practices.
There was a detailed discussion on the distribution of drip and sprinklers on the model of Gujarat. The decision was unanimously taken to help the farmers. Arrangements have been made at the agro cell of the corporation. The State Agriculture Engineering Department officers-employees will co-ordinate with agro cell. The power- operated farm equipments will also be distributed by the agro cell.
Seed Corporation officers said that server also will be established at the agro cell. The Green Revolution Company Vadodara will co-operate in the matter and a software will be developed for the purpose. The farmers can have farm equipment of their choice. The farmers can apply at the District Seeds' Corporation offices and Seeds' Corporation head-office.
Online applications can be filed at CHOICE centres and internet cafes. Technical unit will be opened at Seeds Corporation head office to verify the applications. Random search of the agriculture fields of the farmers selected will be done by the agro cell officers and drip and sprinkler system will be made available. The officers said the entire process of distribution of drip and sprinklers will be done online. It will be speedily implemented. The land will be inspected by the agro cell officers and the suppliers of drips and sprinklers will also be checked by them. The maps of agriculture land will be uploaded with the help of Global Position Review System.
The officers of the Seeds Corporation toured the Gujarat Green Revolution Company Vadodara to observe the functioning and the set-up required. The board of directors after reading the report had decided to implement it here. A number of senior officers participated in the meeting. The Chhattisgarh Government last year hiked its contribution in the amount of subsidy provided to farmers for drips and sprinklers under Micro Irrigation Scheme.
The Government decided to provide 25 per cent of the total cost of drip and sprinkler equipment installation to small farmers and farmers of border areas. likewise, big farmers are provided 10 per cent of the total cost. Earlier, the Government used to provide 10 per cent of the cost (as its share in the subsidy) to both categories of farmers.
Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal had informed that the Central Government also has its contribution in the subsidy provided under the scheme. The Central Government provides 35 per cent of the total cost to small farmers and farmers of border areas and 25 per cent to the big farmers. Including the grant provided by both the Central and State Governments, small farmers and farmers of border areas will receive 60 per cent of the total cost as subsidy. likewise, big farmers will be granted 40 per cent of the cost.
Meanwhile, the Chhattisgarh Government's Drip Irrigation scheme, Micro Irrigation scheme and Sprinkler scheme have greatly contributed in expanding the area of cultivation and yield of horticulture crops, officials stated. Under the Sprinkler scheme, total 38,995 farmers benefited whereas under drip irrigation scheme, 9000 farmers benefited. last year, nearly 16.98 lakh farmers received grants under various beneficiary-oriented schemes.
Under Drip-Irrigation scheme initiated in year 2005-06, subsidy of 75 per cent is provided to small and marginal farmers and that of 50 per cent is provided to big farmers for installation of drip instrument. A total of 38,640 farmers last year benefited under Sprinkler Irrigation scheme and nearly 7,126 farmers have availed the provisions of Drip Irrigation scheme. State-sponsored Micro-Irrigation scheme was initiated in year 2012-13.
Moreover, the efforts of the Chhattisgarh Government to convince farmers to even grow fruits and vegetables had already started paying dividends. The area under cultivation of vegetables has increased from 3.13 lakh hectares to 3.51 lakh hectare, while production from the same has increased from 3.69 lakh metric tonnes to 4.58 lakh metric tonnes so far, officials stated.
This apart, under the scheme initiated to encourage small farmers engaged in vegetable cultivation on river banks, the State Government also provides subsidy of Rs4,700 per 0.4 hectare. The State Government initiated two new schemes in year 2012-13 to increase the income of horticulture farmers. Moreover, the State Government also provides subsidy of Rs13,500 for installation of drip-irrigation scheme in 500 sq metre in farms of BPl and marginal farmers, officials stated.
In the year 2009-10, total area under cultivation of fruits in the State was 1.47 lakh hectares and total production from the same was 12.14 lakh metric tonnes which increased to 1.85 lakh hectare and 15.69 lakh metric tonnes respectively in year 2011-12. Chhattisgarh has great prospects for horticulture crops as well. To explore this potential, state government is providing every possible aid to the farmers for cultivation of fruits, vegetables and spices, officials stated.
Area of cultivation for horticulture crops has increased by eight times in last 10 years. In year 2003-04, the total area under cultivation of horticulture crops was 92,176 hectare, which increased to 7.25 lakh hectares in year 2013-14.
