024. National | Agri
Micro-Irrigation and Water Crisis: Why Uttar Pradesh Must Catch Up
Introduction
Launched as part of India’s effort to address its looming water crisis, the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) has aimed to improve irrigation efficiency through micro-irrigation techniques. However, despite its transformative potential, Uttar Pradesh (UP) has lagged in adoption, raising serious concerns about groundwater sustainability and agricultural resilience.
Current Status of Micro-Irrigation in India
Micro-irrigation, which includes drip and sprinkler systems, has been steadily adopted in several states:
| State | Micro-Irrigated Agricultural Land |
|---|---|
| Karnataka | 1.68 million hectares (22%) |
| Maharashtra | 11% of agricultural land |
| Rajasthan | 11% |
| Uttar Pradesh | Just 4% of total farmland |
| Madhya Pradesh and Punjab | Minimal adoption |
🚜 In UP, only two out of 100 farms are using micro-irrigation methods, highlighting a major policy-to-practice gap.
Groundwater Extraction vs. Irrigation Efficiency
The situation is especially concerning given UP’s heavy dependence on groundwater:
- Key districts like Ghaziabad show only 4% adoption of micro-irrigation.
- Others like Gautam Buddha Nagar and Firozabad show even lower usage rates.
🧭 States like Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh are among the largest groundwater extractors, yet they lag in technologies that conserve water — posing risks to long-term agricultural viability.
Government Initiatives and Bottlenecks
The Horticulture Department of Uttar Pradesh is promoting micro-irrigation through the ‘Per Drop More Crop’ scheme, a sub-component of PMKSY.
🌱 Current Progress:
- As of November 2024, only 1,500 hectares in Saharanpur use micro-irrigation
- Target: 1,840 hectares for the 2024–25 financial year
🚧 Key Challenges:
- Low awareness among farmers
- Lack of technical training and local support
- Delays in subsidy implementation and system maintenance
🛠️ Successful adoption requires more than infrastructure — it needs grassroots engagement, demonstrations, and sustained field support.
🌾 Millets: A Low-Water Alternative to Rice
One promising solution lies in crop diversification — particularly shifting from rice to millets.
| Crop | Water Required to Grow 1 kg |
|---|---|
| Rice | 649 litres |
| Millets | 5 litres |
- Converting just 10% of irrigated rice fields to millets in UP could:
- 💧 Save 993 million cubic metres of groundwater
- 🏙️ Fulfil Lucknow’s domestic water needs for over 75 years
🌱 Millets are climate-resilient, nutrient-rich, and ideal for sustainable farming.
Conclusion
While states like Karnataka and Maharashtra have taken bold strides in micro-irrigation, Uttar Pradesh risks falling behind in both water conservation and agricultural innovation. Addressing this gap through farmer education, infrastructure support, and crop diversification is not just important — it’s essential for the future of farming and water security in the region.
