Problem
Close to half of gross cropped area has no irrigation
- National
- Rural
The Economic Survey 2024-25 reported that irrigation covered 55 per cent of gross cropped area in FY21, up from 49.3 per cent in FY16, with irrigation intensity rising from 144.2 to 154.5 per cent. The remaining area — about 45 per cent of gross cropped area — depends on rainfall. Irrigation projects are planned, funded, executed and maintained by State Governments, with central technical and financial support. Evidence confidence: High for FY21; later coverage is not established here.
1 sub-problem within this
Who is responsible
- Ministry of Jal Shakti — Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation · Ministry or Department
- Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare — Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare · Ministry or DepartmentRuns Per Drop More Crop micro-irrigation support.
- State Water Resources and Irrigation Departments · State GovernmentPlan, execute and maintain irrigation projects.
Evidence and sources
- Coverage of irrigation area increased between FY16 and FY21 from 49.3 per cent to 55 per cent of gross cropped area: Economic Survey 2024-25 · Official statementMinistry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, 31 January 2025, summarising the Economic Survey 2024-25.
- Irrigated Land in the Country — reply in Rajya Sabha · Official statementMinistry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, 23 September 2020. 99 prioritised PMKSY-AIBP projects (ultimate potential 76.03 lakh ha) targeted for completion by December 2019; potential created up to March 2016 and during 2016-20; irrigation is planned and executed by States.
Connected problems
- Related to 310 agricultural districts are rated highly or very highly vulnerable to climate changeRainfed farming is exposed directly to the weather variability that the climate vulnerability assessment measures.
Alongside this
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