Subsidies For Borewell Construction, Drip Irrigation - Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra

Dear Shrikrishna,

Soon after India became independent in 1947, the level of groundwater development was so low that government used to provide incentives to socially and economically backward farmers in drought-prone areas by way of subsidies, interest-free or low-interest long-term loans for groundwater development. In course of time, the level of groundwater development in several parts of India became so high that there has been groundwater depletion or steep decline of groundwater levels.

This prompted the government to stop providing subsidies for groundwater development and began spending on rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharging to conserve groundwater. Although spending on groundwater conservation over groundwater exploitation is justified in areas where the level of groundwater development is high, there is need to reverse this policy in areas where the level of groundwater development is low.

The webpage at http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2003/05/30... indicates that the level of groundwater development in Sindhudurg district as on 2003 was 29%. It would be good for the government to provide subsidies for groundwater exploitation in your district. In any case, you may contact agricultural development wings of commercial banks in your locality to know whether any such incentives are provided for sinking bore wells.

Adoption of drip irrigation enables to bring 40 per cent additional area under irrigation with the available groundwater. Moreover, it reduces the extent of soil erosion, facilitates tilling operations, increases efficiency of fertilizers, reduces the damages through pests and consequently, enhances the crop production by 12 to 31% depending upon the crop. The webpage at http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/ecoSurvey/ecosurvey2007-2008/esm_e... indicates that the Maharashtra Government has provided a subsidy of Rs. 81.74 crore in 2006-07 and Rs. 55.79 crore in 2007-08 (Up to Feb 2008) towards drip irrigation. As a result, 3.83 lakh ha of land in the state could be brought under drip irrigation till the end of March 2007. All the subsidies for drip irrigation appear to go to Vidarbha known for many suicide deaths among farmers, Marathwada and other DPAP (drought prone area programme) zones. Unfortunately, Sindhudurg District where you live has an average annual rainfall of around 3300 mm with over 100 rainy days a year and is considered to be not drought prone. As such, your district is not eligible to get any subsidy for drip irrigation. In any case, you may contact any dealer of drip equipment in your locality for supply at subsided rates.

Good luck.

Dr. R. Jagadiswara Rao
Retired Professor of Geology
Sri Venkateswara University
Tirupati, AP 517502
(Presently on a visit to USA)
rjagadiswara@gmail.com