27.12.17

TN signs ₹20K cr pact with WB to develop irrigation systems

The Union government and Tamil Nadu have signed an agreement with the World Bank for a $318 million (₹20,378 crore) loan towards an irrigated agriculture modernisation project to promote climate-resilient agriculture technologies, improve water management practices, and increase market opportunities for small and marginal farmers.

The loan has a five-year grace period and a maturity of 19 years. About five lakh farmers, mostly small and marginal, are expected to benefit from improved tank irrigation systems.

The project is likely to rehabilitate and modernise about 4,800 irrigation tanks and 477 check dams, spread across 66 sub-basins, in delivering bulk water to irrigation systems.

The project will support smallholder producers adopt new conservation technologies such as the system of rice intensification  and sustainable sugar initiative. They reduce average water usage by 35% and increase yields by 22% per hectare. The project is expected to increase the yield of rice, maize, and pulses by 18–20%.

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