Centre’s Sinchai Yojana takes roots in Khammam’s dryland

Centre’s Sinchai Yojana takes roots in Khammam’s dryland
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Highlights

Chancing upon an opportunity, farmers in two nondescript villages in Khammam district are now ready to deliver results. Central Government’s Prime Minister Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), aimed at enhancing recharge of aquifers and introducing sustainable water conservation practices, has become a godsend opportunity to the farmers of dryland area in Raja Lingala and Rai Madaram panchayats.

Khammam: Chancing upon an opportunity, farmers in two nondescript villages in Khammam district are now ready to deliver results. Central Government’s Prime Minister Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), aimed at enhancing recharge of aquifers and introducing sustainable water conservation practices, has become a godsend opportunity to the farmers of dryland area in Raja Lingala and Rai Madaram panchayats.

True to the saying ‘One’s loss is another’s gain,’ these two panchayats under Enkoor mandal have got an opportunity when there were no takers to avail of the benefits of the scheme from Singareni mandal that was originally selected for the Sinchai Yojana.

With both Raja Lingala and Rai Madaram panchayats happen to fall on the border of Singareni mandal, authorities considered them for implementing the scheme. It may be mentioned here that only dryland areas will be considered for the scheme.

Under the scheme, the Centre will provide 90 per cent subsidy to each farmer if they are willing to have farm ponds. Each farm pond admeasuring 20X20 meters with 3 meter deep costs around Rs 72,000 for groundwork and Rs 62,000 for laying polythene sheet in the pond so that to avoid water percolation.

Of which, the farmer who avails the scheme has to pay just 10 per cent of the total expenditure. It may be mentioned here that while Centre bears 75 per cent of funding for the PMKSY, the State has to provide the rest.

Speaking to The Hans India, mandal agriculture officer D Balaji said: “Initially, farmers appeared adamant to avail the scheme but after they were enlightened about its benefits, they came forward. We have so far constructed 19 farm ponds in two panchayats.

Only laying of polythene sheets is pending that’s expected to take before rainy season. It’s a protective irrigation by harnessing rainwater. ‘Per drop – more crop’ is the motto.”The farmers will get the benefits of this scheme from next rainy season. Each farm pond will hold water sufficient to provide four irrigations to one acre dryland, he said.

The farm ponds were designed in such a way that they don’t allow negative effect on water quality due to soil erosion. It allows the beneficiary go for fish farming as well with the authorities promised to provide around 5,000 fingerlings to each beneficiary. Fish farming in the farm ponds is also expected to chip in some income to the farmers.

Boda Raghu of Nemalipuri hamlet under Raja Lingala panchayat who owns six acres said: “The farm ponds will be of immense use during the vital stages of cropping. Even a single drenching could save the crop.”Korra Lokya of Srirampur Tanda in Rai Madaram panchayat said that they are hopeful of doing well in the rabi with farm ponds in place.


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