Micro irrigation gains momentum in EG

- Drip and sprinkler systems making headway in delta areas
- Farmers prefer the new system as it guarantees better crop yield and good returns apart from conserving water

Kakinada: Drip and sprinkler systems under micro irrigation picked up momentum in East Godavari district in the last couple of years, as the system provide triple benefit of water conservation, better crop yield and good financial returns to the farmers.

Confined to upland and Agency mandals, it is now being extended to delta areas where the farming community are largely dependent on bore wells for their agriculture needs. As part of this extension special focus is being laid on commercial crops like pulses, cocoa as intercrop in coconut in addition to banana.

The target for micro irrigation in the current agriculture season is at 3,000 hectares, and of this East Godavari unit achieved 650 hectares by the end of October. With the crop season to pick up momentum in November the authorities are hoping to meet the target within the stipulated time.

While extending of the facility, the farmers of SC, ST social section are being provided 100 per cent subsidies, for others up to 90 per cent on micro and sprinkler irrigation installations in area up to five acres. For those in the category of 5 to 10 acres 70 per cent subsidy and for those in the category of 10 acres and above up to land ceiling limit subsidy to the extent of 50 per cent will be provided.

While sprinkler irrigation is being preferred for pulses like black gram, green gram, bengal gram, sesame, the coconut farmers, who have taken up cocoa as inter crop preferring drip irrigation as the same averts flooding of water there by curtailing the spread of vector-borne diseases.

Speaking to The Hans India East Godavari AP Micro Irrigation Project (APMIP) deputy director T V Subba Rao said that they have been extending micro irrigation facility to farmers on the basis of less water use for more crop yield with top priority for water conservation.