Maharashtra: Drip irrigation mandatory for sugarcane crop

The Maharashtra government today decided to make drip irrigation mandatory for sugarcane crop in all the irrigation command areas across the state.
The government, in its cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has decided to install drip irrigation system in the fields of total 3.7 lakh hectares in a phased manner over the next two years. The amount of loan will be Rs 85,400 per hectare, a release issued by the Chief Minister's office said.
It has also decided that sugarcane crop will not be allowed to be cultivated if fields do not have drip irrigation facility.
"The government will borrow a long term loan from National Agricultural Bank and Rural Development (NABARD) and it will be distributed in a cycle through state cooperative bank (Apex Bank) to District Central Cooperative (DCC) banks and then to farmers," Agriculture minister Pandurang Fundkar told reporters here.

He said farmers will get a loan on an interest rate of 7.5 per cent.
"If farmers repay regularly, the government will bear the interest of four per cent, sugar mill will bear 1.25 per cent and farmers will have to pay only two per cent interest," Fundkar added.

He said that the drip irrigation for sugarcane crops is mandatory for both cooperative and private sugar mills.
Land that irrigates through wells, rivers, nullahas and lift irrigation schemes have been included in 'mandatory drip irrigation' scheme, Fundkar said.
According to the decision, the state will bring 1.50 lakh hectare sugarcane fields under drip irrigation by the end of 2018.

In 2018-19, an additional 1.55 lakh hectares land will be brought under drip irrigation.
A committee under the Additional chief secretary (Finance) will be set up to finalise sugarcane fields to be brought under drip irrigation.
"Out of total water available in the state, 70 to 80 per cent water is used for purpose of irrigation. Drip irrigation will consume minimum water and will produce more crop. It will also help mitigate pesticides and manpower issues, Fundkar said.
Sugarcane is a cash crop and hence farmers from western, north Maharashtra and Marathwada region prefer to cultivate it.
By making farmers cultivating sugarcane crop switch over to drip irrigation, the state plans to conserve an estimated 7000 to 12500 cubic meter per hectares water, an official said.