States to get freedom to bring all rain-fed farm land under irrigation
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New Delhi: A year after announcing the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), the Union Cabinet on Wednesday finally gave its nod to the proposal that was prepared after lengthy deliberations with various state governments. The scheme as approved by the Cabinet seeks to provide irrigation facilities to each village by merging various other programmes being executed through various ministries.
The Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the proposal moved by the Union ministry of agriculture, which will be the nodal ministry to execute the scheme. The scheme seeks to reach irrigation facility to over 65 per cent of the farm land still dependent on rains. The scheme, as approved by the Cabinet, is modelled on the theme of “per drop more crop”, besides tapping all sources of water to reach them to the farm land.
With a budget allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for this fiscal, the scheme proposes to provide flexibility and autonomy to states in the process of planning and executing projects for ensuring water. The state agriculture department would be the nodal agency for implementation of PMKSY projects, while there would also be an inter-ministerial National Steering Committee (NSC) for periodic review of the same. The PMKSY funds would be given to states with 75 per cent grant by the Centre and the remaining 25 per cent to be borne by the state government.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet in another decision approved the setting up of an online national agriculture market. This will provide more options to farmers for selling their produce.
The decision aims to end the current practice of farmers selling their produce at mandis or market committees only that charge various taxes on producers. An online platform would be set up wherein farmers will be able to sell and buy fruits, vegetables and other produce from across the country.
( Source : deccan chroncile )
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