Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 20 December 2025
The Department of Agriculture, Andaman & Nicobar Administration has announced a fresh push to strengthen irrigation access for farmers in the Islands under the Union Territory Plan, inviting applications for financial assistance under its Development of Minor Irrigation initiative.
The programme is aimed at supporting individual cultivators as well as co-operative farming societies by improving on-farm irrigation infrastructure. Assistance will be extended in the form of loan-cum-subsidy, shramdan-cum-subsidy, and cash-cum-subsidy, with beneficiaries under the loan category eligible to secure their share of funds through nationalised banks.
Back-end subsidies will be available for four core components:
- Excavation of Ponds: Eligible individual farmers with a minimum of 0.50 ha of cultivable land or co-operative societies can receive 50% of the estimated cost, capped at ₹1.5 lakh per pond.
- Construction of RCC Ring Wells: Any bona fide farmer or co-operative, irrespective of land holding, can secure 50% of the estimated cost up to ₹1 lakh per well.
- Purchase of Pumpsets (0.5 HP to 5 HP): Assistance of 50% of the purchase cost or up to ₹10,000 per pumpset will be provided.
- Installation of Micro-Irrigation Systems (Drip/Sprinkler): Farmers with at least 0.05 ha cultivable land or co-operatives can claim 75% subsidy on system cost including pumpset, or ₹93,750 per hectare, whichever is lower, along with 100% transport subsidy.
Applicants must submit the prescribed form along with:
- Latest land records (original or attested)
- Aadhaar copy
- Bank details
- NOC from co-tenants in case of joint property
- Mobile number linked to the bank account
Interested farmers have been advised to approach their nearest Agriculture Sub-Depot or Zonal Agriculture Office to collect and submit application forms along with the required documents.
Forms are available island-wide across Sub-Depots and Zonal Offices. For assistance and guidance, farmers may contact the Assistant Director (Soil), Zonal Officers, or the Kisan Call Centre at 03192-243434 / 1800-345-1145.
The Agriculture Department has encouraged wide participation, noting that improved minor irrigation assets will help farmers boost productivity, ensure reliable water supply and strengthen agricultural resilience in the Islands. (Story Based on PR)
