Agri Output to Double With 80k-Cr Irrigation Scheme

NEW DELHI: To boost agriculture production, the government is planning to bring two crore hectares of land under irrigation through various schemes including 80,000-crore AIBP, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today said. 

Terming severe water crisis in 11 states as the main cause behind farmers' plight, the Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister said irrigation schemes were being fast-tracked to provide relief to the agrarian community. 

"Two crore hectares of land can be irrigated and agriculture production could be doubled through agriculture schemes including Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP)for which a provision of 80,000 crore has been made in the budget," Gadkari said addressing a workshop on 'Liberating the Farmers from Death Trap' here. 

Besides the AIBP for 89 projects, a provision of Rs 20,000 crore has been made under Pradhan Mantri Sinchai Yojana. Maharashtra's 28 projects are included in the AIBP, the minister said. 

Admitting that farmers' suicide was a sorry state of affairs, he said the Centre was committed to addressing their problems and bring more cultivable areas under irrigation. 

Presently, only 46 percent of the cultivable area is irrigated.

Read Also: 'Modi's Visit Gave Opportunity To Assess Indo-U.S. Partnership': Obama 
From Bad Economy, Modi Govt Turned India Into "Bright Spot"