Andhra Pradesh

Promoting micro-irrigation

Kakinada: The District Water Management Agency (DWMA) has targeted to cover 2,500 hectares under the Micro-Irrigation Project (MIP) this year, and efforts are on to promote the concept among farmers by explaining its utility in summer when water becomes scarce.

The uses of MIP, mainly its role in conserving water, are made known to the farmers so that they opt for drip, sprinkler or rain gun systems of micro-irrigation to nurture their crops.

Besides, DWMA officials are encouraging farmers to use ‘soluble fertilizers’ to produce good quality crops rather than spraying the fertilizers in the conventional means. Soluble fertilizers are like any other chemicals used to enhance the soil fertility but they are mixed in water in recommended ratios and supplied through pipes instead of being sprayed. This method ensures optimum usage of fertilizers, which in turn makes the plants healthier. Soluble fertilizers, which are costly but highly efficient, are manufactured by Nagarjuna Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited and some other companies. MIP Additional Project Director V. Satyanarayana told The Hindu that the MIP was aimed at conserving water and enhancing productivity, thereby facilitating generation of higher incomes for farmers.

MIP’s advantages are flexibility in operation, suitability to poor soils, economy in culture practices and less scope for diseases.

For the year 2008-09, MIP targets oil palm in 1,500 hectares and 500 hectares each of horticulture and irrigated dry crops respectively. Seventy per cent subsidy is being given to farmers for installing the micro-irrigation units, subject to a limit of Rs. 50,000. Last year, micro-irrigation units costing Rs. 6.99 crores were installed, including a subsidy component of Rs. 4.82 crores.

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