In Jalgaon, cotton farmers' yield per acre was almost four times that of Vidarbha farmers, because of drip irrigation, said Maharashtra minister.
Prime minister Narendra Modi would review the drought situation in various states during a meeting of chief ministers on Saturday (May 7). In the meeting, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis will seek a three-year continued subsidy of Rs1,000 crore each to bring the entire sugarcane cultivation in the state under drip irrigation.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra minister for cooperation Chandrakant Patil informed that sugarcane cultivation in the state was spread over an area of 6 lakh acres, of which 25 per cent was under drip irrigation. Patil said that at present, of the total expenditure of Rs56,000 per acre, a subsidy of Rs20,000 from the state and Union governments each was provided, while the remaining Rs16,000 was the farmers' contribution.
Patil further said that at present, very few farmers, only 300-400, could avail the subsidy as there was a fixed quota for every district. He informed that chief minister Fadnavis, during the drought review meeting, would point it out to the prime minister that if the water was to be used judiciously, it was imperative to bring sugarcane cultivation under drip irrigation.
He added that if the state received a subsidy of Rs1,000 crore from the Union government every year, it would be possible to bring one lakh acres of cane cultivation under drip irrigation, and in next 3-4 years, it would be possible to bring the entire sugarcane cultivation under drip irrigation. Patil further pointed out that in Jalgaon, cotton farmers' yield per acre was almost four times that of Vidarbha farmers, because of drip irrigation. He said in addition to the efficient use of water, the drip resulted in increased yield and judicious use of water.
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