SDG 6: Clean Water & Sanitation | SDG 2: Zero Hunger | SDG 13: Climate Action
Institutions: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare | State/UT Agriculture Departments
The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has announced revised guidelines under the Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme to grant States and Union Territories greater leeway in implementing micro-level water conservation projects. These include diggal storage structures, water-harvesting systems, and other localized water management interventions tailored to local needs—even for individual farmers or communities.
Previously, States/UTs were constrained: only 20 % of the total PDMC allocation (and 40 % for NE/ Himalayan / J&K / Ladakh) could be used for such “Other Interventions” (OI). Under the new flexibility, States can exceed those caps based on local requirements.
This change is intended to support adoption of micro-irrigation, improve water-use efficiency, and thereby increase agricultural productivity and farm incomes in water-scarce or climate-vulnerable areas.
By loosening rigid funding caps, the government enables bottom-up, context-specific water conservation efforts. This enhances the ability of states to invest in localized solutions, especially in regions with unique hydrology or water scarcity challenges. It may accelerate irrigation efficiency, reduce overexploitation of water, and strengthen climate resilience in agriculture.
What are Diggi Structures and “Other Interventions” under PDMC?
Diggi structures (sometimes spelled diggal) are small, on-farm water storage ponds that help farmers collect canal or rainwater for later use. Common in arid regions like Rajasthan, they act as local reservoirs that improve irrigation reliability and reduce dependence on erratic rainfall.
Under the Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme, Other Interventions (OI) refer to micro-level water-management works that supplement micro-irrigation systems. These include digging farm ponds, creating check dams, constructing small harvesting tanks, and developing local conveyance channels. States can now use a higher share of their PDMC funds for such projects, giving them flexibility to design area-specific water-saving solutions that strengthen farm resilience
Follow the full release here: PIB – New PDMC Flexibility for Water Conservation