51% land cultivated using micro irrigation techniques in Andhra Pradesh: NABARD Report

Amaravati, July 18 (KNN) According to the latest report released by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Andhra Pradesh has topped the list in the implementation of micro irrigation in states.

As per the report, the total land cultivated under micro-irrigation in Andhra Pradesh is 51 percent followed by 49 percent in Karnataka, 34 percent in Maharashtra, 29 percent in Tamil Nadu, and 22 percent in Gujarat.

Punjab and Haryana are two states with lowest number of farmers using the micro-irrigation technology. One of the major reason for low usage is that these two are high rice cultivating states.

The AP government in the month of March this year had decided to resume the micro irrigation scheme chiefly to promote horticulture crops. The state government is extending a 90 percent subsidy for the implementation of the drip irrigation systems.

The aim of the state government is to at least cover 4 to 4.5 lakh acres under the micro-irrigation scheme during the current fiscal year.

Farmers belonging from Rayalaseema districts and upland areas in Guntur, Prakasam, and Nellore districts are expected to benefit the most from the revival of the scheme.  (KNN Bureau)