About 450 hectares of land belonging to small and marginal farmers in the district have so far been brought under micro irrigation practices by the Andhra Pradesh Micro Irrigation Corporation (APMIC). In the next 3 months another 600 hectares will be covered bringing the total extent of land brought under micro-irrigation to 1050 hectares. Oil palm, sugar cane and vegetable crops were being raised by the small and marginal farmers using drip irrigation systems. Another additional 500 hectares will be targeted in the months of February and March and the mango, coconut, guava and even sericulture plantation farmers will be encouraged to adopt drip irrigation techniques. The total extent of lands that will come under drip irrigation by the end of March will be 1500 hectares. The state government is introducing drip irrigation with the objective of conserving scarce water resources and encouraging its judicious use. Besides there is a false notion among the farmers that the more they water the plant the more it would increase its crop yield. This impression the APMIC is seeking to dispel by educating the farmers against excessive use of water.
Farmers investing a maximum of Rs.1 lakh are able to reap 100 per cent profits due to their adoption of the micro-irrigation techniques. While SC and ST farmers were getting free supply of the drip irrigation kits, small and marginal farmers were given 90 per cent subsidy with a mere 10 per cent of the cost as the beneficiary’s contribution. Medium farmers are eligible for 75 per cent subsidy and farmers irrespective of their land holdings are eligible for 40 per cent subsidy.
All that a farmer needs is a small piece of land anywhere from 2 to 5 acres and a bore-well and the rest is being provided by the government and banks. Small and marginal farmers are reaping profits out of vegetable cultivation which is giving them revenue on a daily and weekly basis. District Collector V. Seshadri had directed the department of Horticulture and the APMIC to educate the farmers and create awareness on the benefits of drip irrigation and bring 1000 acres under the drip, under Indira Jala Prabha scheme. The scheme envisages conversion of waste lands into fruitful ventures taking advantage of the drip. The NREG scheme also came in handy for the farmers. The APMIC plantations were being raised using the labor component under the scheme.
The farmers are using the NREGS work force for the tilling, plantation and all farm operations and for installation of the drip irrigation systems. Using drip irrigation, several farmers had been cultivating leafy vegetables and tomatoes and earning Rs.50,000 per acre annually. Scores of farmers were earning handsomely on their lands using 100 per cent subsidy on drip.
Andhra Pradesh Micro Irrigation Project (APMIP) project director S. Rammohan Rao told The Hindu that the drip and sprinkler irrigation is helping the small and marginal farmers in the district to earn handsomely.
