Rs 5,000-cr irrigation plan for Mandi

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, October 29

The Agriculture Department, Mandi, is geared up to enhance agriculture production and help farmers of the district to deal with drought-like conditions effectively by implementing the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).

The department has decided to cover 51,000 hectares under the five-year irrigation plan in Mandi district at a cost of Rs 5,000 crore. The district has a potential of adequate water resources for irrigation but farmers are unable to take the advantage in the absence of proper planning.

According to agriculturists, due to lack of irrigation facility in villages, farmers of the district are dependent on rainfall for moisture in their agriculture fields for sowing crops. Sometimes, drought-like conditions affect agriculture production badly, leaving farmers to suffer economically.

Deputy Director Agriculture Jeet Ram Thakur told The Tribune that the department had made a five-year irrigation plan for the district under which 51,000 hectares would be covered at a cost of Rs 5,000 crore.

“The state government has set up a target to enhance the income of farmers by 34 per cent by providing proper irrigation facilities, which will help them to diversify crops. A budget of Rs 5,000 crore will be spent under the agriculture, horticulture and irrigation and public health departments to construct water tanks, borewell, check dams and lift water schemes for the irrigation purpose,” he said.

Thakur said, “Till now, Rs 4.88 crore has been spent on the construction of 210 water units in different parts of the district and efforts are being made to achieve the target within a stipulated time frame. In Mandi district, 91,177 hectares are suitable for farming. Every year, 80,000 hectares are covered under kharif crops, while 74,000 hectares under rabi crops”.

“Paddy, wheat and maize are the main crops in Mandi district. Around 19,600 hectares are being covered under paddy, 47,000 hectares under maize and 67,000 hectares under wheat crop. Besides, farmers of the district are cultivating off-season vegetable crops to sustain their livelihoods. All this needs a good irrigation facility to enhance the production of crops,” he said.

Govt’s aim is to raise farmers’ income

The state government has set up a target to enhance the income of farmers by 34 per cent by providing proper irrigation facilities, which will help them to diversify crops. A budget of Rs 5,000 crore will be spent under the agriculture, horticulture and irrigation and public health departments to construct water tanks, borewell, check dams and lift water schemes for the irrigation purpose.  Jeet Ram Thakur, Deputy director agriculture, Mandi