National Mission On Micro Irrigation (NMMI)

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 10th June 2010 approved the implementation of the existing Micro Irrigation Scheme (MIS) as the National Mission on Micro Irrigation (NMMI) during the Eleventh Plan period with an outlay of Rs.8032.90 crore, of which Rs.3409.26 crore will be contributed by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC) as Central share comprising 40% subsidy for general farmers and 50% subsidy for small and marginal farmers.

NMMI is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in which 40% of the cost of the MI system will be borne by the Central Government, 10% by the State Government and the remaining amount will be borne by the beneficiary either through his/her own resources or loan from financial institutions. Additional assistance of 10% of the cost of the MI system will be borne by the Central Government in respect of small and marginal farmers.

Salient Features

• All categories of farmers are eligible to avail assistance under this scheme.
• Assistance to farmers will be limited to a maximum area of five ha per beneficiary.
• 75% of the cost of drip and sprinkler demonstration for a maximum area of 0.5 ha per demonstration will be borne by the Central Government.
• Assistance will be available for both drip and sprinkler irrigation for wide spaced as well as close spaced crops. However, assistance for sprinkler irrigation will be available only for those crops where drip irrigation is uneconomical.
• Assistance will be available for irrigation systems for protected cultivation including greenhouses, polyhouses and shadenet structures.
• Assistance will be available for implementation of advanced technology like fertigation with fertilizer tank /venture systems, sand filters/media filters, hydrocyclone filters/sand separators and other different types of filter and valves required for MI system.
• Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) will be involved in promoting the scheme and identification of priority areas.
• At the National Level, the Executive Committee of NMMI will review the progress of NMMI and approve the Annual Action Plans of States
• At the State level, the State Micro Irrigation Committee (SMIC) will oversee the implementation of the Mission programme in districts.
• The District Micro Irrigation Committee (DMIC) will coordinate the implementation of NMMI programme at the District level.
• NCPAH will coordinate and monitor the programme of NMMI in different States.
• The Scheme will be implemented by an implementing Agency (IA) at the State level duly appointed by the State Government. Funds will be released directly to the IA on the basis of approved plans for each year.
• The IA shall prepare the Annual Action Plan for the State on the basis of the district plans and get it forwarded by SMIC for approval of the Executive Committee (EC) of NMMI.
• SMIC shall forward 25 copies of the consolidated proposal to Ministry of Agriculture.
• Payment will be made through RTGS to the IA who will transfer funds to the identified districts. DMIC will provide funds to the system suppliers through the farmers/beneficiaries.
• Registration of System Manufacturers will be done by the SMIC for use in the Districts.
• Supply of good quality system, both for drip and sprinkler irrigation, having Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) marking and proper after sales services to the satisfaction of the farmers, is paramount.

Mission Objectives

The main objectives of NMMI are as follows:

1. To increase the area under micro irrigation through improved technologies.
2. To enhance the water use efficiency in the country.
3. To increase the productivity of crops and farmers’ income.
4. To establish convergence and synergy among on-going government programmes.
5. To promote, develop and disseminate micro irrigation technology for agriculture/horticulture with modern scientific knowledge.
6. To create employment opportunities for skilled and unskilled person especially unemployed youth.