Include Centre Pivot Irrigation in PMKSY-PDMC: A Case for Expanding India's Precision Irrigation Framework

India's PMKSY-PDMC scheme has made measurable progress in spreading micro-irrigation — drip and sprinkler systems chief among them. Yet Centre Pivot Irrigation (CPI), a technology widely deployed across large agricultural holdings in the United States, Brazil, and parts of Africa, remains outside the scheme's subsidy eligibility. For large and contiguous farmlands, CPI delivers uniform water application at critical crop-growth stages with a precision that conventional sprinkler systems cannot always match. The absence of CPI from PMKSY-PDMC means that farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), cooperatives, and agri-enterprises with holdings suited to the technology must bear its full capital cost — a barrier that effectively keeps the technology out of reach for most.

The argument for CPI is not merely about scale — it is about the convergence of efficiency and modernisation. Proponents highlight six core benefits that align squarely with national agricultural goals:

• Water-use efficiency: Precise, uniform water application cuts wastage significantly compared to flood irrigation.
• Crop productivity: Optimum irrigation timed to critical growth stages supports higher and more stable yields.
• Farm profitability: Reduced labour requirements and lower operational costs improve net farm income — directly supporting the national goal of doubling farmers' income.
• Climate resilience: The ability to schedule irrigation scientifically under variable weather conditions makes CPI a climate-adaptive tool.
• Mechanisation and digitalisation: CPI integrates with IoT sensors, AI-driven scheduling, and remote sensing platforms, enabling digital farm management.
• National vision: Proponents argue these combined gains contribute directly to the Viksit Bharat 2047 agenda.

The call for policy intervention is directed at four key stakeholders: the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), State Agriculture Departments, and policymakers more broadly. The specific request is to formally include Centre Pivot Irrigation within the PDMC subsidy framework — making financial assistance and subsidy support available to farmers and agri-enterprises that adopt the technology.

The argument is that this single inclusion can accelerate the uptake of precision irrigation at scale, improve water productivity, and strengthen climate resilience across Indian agriculture. No specific subsidy quantum or capital-cost figure is cited in the current submission; the ask is primarily for policy recognition as a first step.

India's agriculture sector faces a tightening water budget. Groundwater tables are declining in major grain-producing states, erratic monsoons are increasing irrigation dependence, and the pressure to produce more food from less water is intensifying. In this context, the principle that every drop saved is a step towards a water-secure and prosperous India — as articulated by advocates of this proposal — carries real policy weight.

Extending PMKSY-PDMC to cover CPI would not replace existing drip and sprinkler support; it would add a third, complementary technology tier suited to larger holdings that current scheme instruments do not adequately serve. For policymakers balancing food security, rural income growth, and sustainable resource use, the case merits serious examination.