The State Government has approved Rs 2.87 crore for implementation of solar micro irrigation project in Bhilai Khurd region of Korba district.
The project would help irrigate 50 hectares of farm land in the Kharif season and another 50 hectares in the Rabi season, officials informed.
Notably, Drip and sprinkler Irrigation system being a better water energy saving technology has gained more preference by beneficiary farmers of various State Government schemes over traditional system during the past few years, officials informed.
The Chhattisgarh Rajya beej Evam Krishi Vikas Nigam ltd. (CGBKVN) is the implementing agency appointed by Government of Chhattisgarh for implementation of Micro Irrigation Schemes and Agriculture Mechanization schemes in the State.
Chhattisgarh’s farm lands with 17.25 lakh hectares net irrigated area out of total 46.81 lakh hectares net cultivable area is dominated closely by field and vegetable crops.
At present the farm power availability in Chhattisgarh is about 0.96 kw/ha. Whereas national average is about 1.84 kw/ha. So it has great potential and necessity to achieve the national average for the agricultural development in the State, officials informed.
Notably, a MoU was signed between the Chhattisgarh State Agriculture and Seeds Development Corporation and Gujarat Green Revolution Company limited in the presence of Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal in 2016-17.
Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal had stated after signing of MoU that the State had been making efforts to improve the conditions of farmers and farming activity. The farmers can avail of the online facility to obtain sprinklers and drip equipment. Water is very precious and this method of farming will help in utilizing every drop of water. High-grade equipment is the need of the hour for top quality agriculture, he said.
The farmers can avail of the latest farm implements from the registered firms Online. The drip irrigation and sprinklers implements will also be insured, Agrawal said. The State Agriculture Department has decided to continue with the various schemes of drip irrigation, sprinkler and self-driven farming equipments and begin the new schemes resembling Gujarat’s pattern for the same from August onwards.
A circular regarding the information has been released by the Department of Agriculture and Biotechnology to the Directors of Agriculture and Horticulture departments.
Also, the circular has been sent to the Managing Director of Chhattisgarh Seed and Agricultural Development Corporation. Agrawal had stated that the government will follow the Gujarat pattern for the new system. Presently, the State government is inquiring to commence the system with the support of Gujarat Green Revolution Company limited. The ongoing process will take around three months for the implementation, said the Minister.
He informed about the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture which manages the On-Farm Water Management. It also covers the state funded micro irrigation schemes.
Agrawal further said the farmers are being provided irrigation pumps under the Shakambari Irrigation Scheme.
Notably, Chhattisgarh Agriculture and Water Resources Minister Brijmohan Agrawal on April 4 last year had stated that micro irrigation projects have been fulfilling irrigation needs of far-flung areas of the State. He had urged the Centre to provide funds for big, medium and microirrigation projects.
Agrawal was addressing the four-day long India water week at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
He said that over 1.5 lakh hectares of land could get irrigation facility through micro irrigation projects in Chhattisgarh and demanded Rs 800 crore from the Centre for development of micro irrigation projects.
The Minister further said that budget in Chhattisgarh has been increased from 23 per cent to 34.76 per cent for ensuring development of water resources in the State. Notably, Chhattisgarh is among 13 states which had been mentioned in the Economic Survey report 2015-16 as a success story on use of drip irrigation by farmers on their lands. The results from an impact evaluation of National Mission on MicroIrrigation of the Union Ministry of Agriculture conducted in 64 districts of 13 states mainly – Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand – are revealing on the benefits of drip irrigation, according to the survey report. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) had been helping Chhattisgarh strengthen water resources management to increase the productivity ofirrigated crops in the State, officials informed.
The project aims to improve rural livelihoods and reduce rural poverty through improved irrigation service delivery with enhanced agricultural practices, they informed.
Notably, under the Saur Sujala Yojana that was launched last year in November the State Government is targetting to install around 11,300 solar powered irrigation pumps in the first phase out of which 8,741 have already been distributed to farmers, officials informed.
During the second and third phase of the scheme installation of around 20,000 solar pumps in each phase has been targetted , they informed.
CREDA will also develop an elaborate water distribution network for its solar community irrigation projects in 29 locations of the State, officials informed. The Chhattisgarh Government also recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NABARD with the latter agreeing to provide loan worth nearly Rs 715 crore for completion of three incomplete majorirrigation schemes under Prime Minister Agriculture Irrigation Scheme.
These schemes include-- Kelo Major Irrigation Project, Kharang Canal lining Project and Maniyari Canal lining, which are to be completed by year 2019 to meet the target. The completion of these projects will expand irrigation facility in 47,685 hectares, officials informed.
