NEWS – State government set to expand scope of Krishi Bhagya scheme

HIGHLIGHTS

• Issue Addressed: Severe drought experienced over the past year.
• Objective: Ensure sustainability of farm activities through the Krishi Bhagya programme.
• Main Strategy: Store rainwater in farm ponds for crop irrigation during summer.

Financial Commitments and Expansion

• Increased Funding:
  • More funds than originally allocated in the Budget.
  • Removal of restrictions on implementing the scheme in tail-end irrigation command areas.
• Scope Expansion:
  • Previously focused on four dry climatic zones.
  • Will now include all 236 taluks across 31 districts.
• Impact on Dry-Land Farming: The scheme is crucial for transforming dry-land farming into a sustainable practice using stored rainwater.
• Farm Pond Targets: Aim to build 30,000 to 40,000 farm ponds this year.

Budgetary Details

• Initial Allocation: ₹200 crore, with ₹100 crore from the Revenue Department.
• Financial Requirement: Expected to exceed budgetary allocation due to the number of farm ponds planned.

ABOUT THE SCHEME

• Inception: Launched in 2014-15
• Drought-Prone Focus: Karnataka ranks next to Rajasthan in drought-prone land.
• Discontinuation and Revival: Discontinued in 2021-22, reintroduced in 2023-24.
• Achievements:
  • 2,89,827 farm ponds built between 2014-15 and 2020-21.
  • Total storage capacity of 1,472.31 lakh cubic meters of water.

Scheme Components

• Main Components:
  • Building farm ponds.
  • Providing polythene lining to prevent water percolation.
  • Erecting fences around ponds.
  • Installing pumps for water lifting.
  • Adopting drip/sprinkler irrigation methods.
• Subsidy Provision: Government provides subsidies for all components.

Significance to Karnataka Agriculture

• Rain-Fed Agriculture
• 64% of Karnataka’s cultivable area relies on rain.
• Contributes to 55% of food production and 75% of oil seed production despite rain dependency.