Drip Irrigation Subsidy 2026: 55% Under Per Drop More Crop

The drip irrigation subsidy most farmers can claim comes from Per Drop More Crop (PDMC): the government pays 55% of the cost for small and marginal farmers and 45% for other farmers, for up to 5 hectares per beneficiary, and many states add a top-up. You apply through your state agriculture or horticulture department, usually on its farmer portal, and the system is installed by a company empanelled by the state.

Everything here is as of October 2026, based mainly on a PIB backgrounder of August 2026. One change matters if you are searching old guides: PDMC was part of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) from 2015-16 to 2021-22, and since 2022-23 it has run under the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY). The scheme is active; only the umbrella changed, and states now have more flexibility in how they fund it.

Who it applies to

• Individual farmers with land recorded in their name, including those on leased land where the state accepts a lease deed.
• Small and marginal farmers (up to 2 hectares) get the higher rate.
• Groups, such as FPOs and cooperatives, are covered under state rules.
• The limit is 5 hectares per beneficiary, and the same land can get support again only after 7 years.

The scheme also covers sprinkler systems (portable, mini, micro, semi-permanent and rain-guns), which suit closely planted crops such as groundnut, onion and pulses, while drip suits orchards, vegetables, cotton and sugarcane.

What support is available

The PIB note says PDMC had covered over 115 lakh hectares by July 2026 and benefited 12.30 lakh farmers in 2025-26, with Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Rajasthan covering the most area.

How the subsidy is calculated: worked example

States publish a unit cost per hectare for each system and crop spacing. The subsidy is usually worked out on the lower of that norm or your actual cost.

Suppose a small farmer installs drip on 1.5 hectares of vegetables. The illustrative state norm is ₹1,10,000 per hectare, and the company's quote is ₹1,20,000 per hectare.

• Total quote: 1.5 × ₹1,20,000 = ₹1,80,000
• Cost eligible for subsidy (at the norm): 1.5 × ₹1,10,000 = ₹1,65,000
• Subsidy at 55%: 55% × ₹1,65,000 = ₹90,750
• Farmer pays: ₹1,80,000 − ₹90,750 = ₹89,250

For a farmer outside the small/marginal group, at 45%:

• Subsidy: 45% × ₹1,65,000 = ₹74,250
• Farmer pays: ₹1,80,000 − ₹74,250 = ₹1,05,750

If the small farmer borrows the ₹89,250 share at an illustrative 10% for 3 years, the EMI is about ₹2,880, with total interest of about ₹14,424. Check your own figures in the EMI calculator. A Kisan Credit Card or an agricultural term loan from your bank can finance this share; the unit costs above are examples, so use your state's notified norms.

Documents usually required

• Aadhaar card and Aadhaar-seeded bank account
• Land record (7/12, khatauni, jamabandi, patta or state equivalent); lease deed if allowed
• Small/marginal farmer certificate or caste certificate where a higher rate applies
• Proof of a water source (well, borewell, canal or farm pond), and sometimes an electricity connection
• Soil and water test report, where the state asks for it
• Passport photo and mobile number
• Quotation and design from an empanelled micro irrigation company

How to apply: the official route

1. Find your state's channel. Micro irrigation is handled by the state agriculture or horticulture department or a state agency. Many states take applications on a farmer portal, for example MahaDBT in Maharashtra and iKhedut in Gujarat. The central scheme site is pdmc.da.gov.in, but individual applications go through the state.
2. Apply in the window with land, bank and water-source details and the area you want covered.
3. Choose an empanelled company. It surveys the field, prepares the design and gives a quotation within the state's cost norms.
4. Pre-sanction. The department checks the field and design and issues approval. Do not install before approval unless your state clearly allows it.
5. Installation and verification. After installation, officials verify the system on site, often with geo-tagged photos.
6. Subsidy release. The subsidy goes by DBT to your bank account or, in some states, to the company, with you paying only your share.

Status tracking

Use the application number on your state portal. Typical stages are applied, field inspection, pre-sanction, installed, verified and paid. If the subsidy is approved but not paid, check bank seeding with Aadhaar and whether the verification report has been uploaded.

Common problems and fixes

How to complain

1. Block or district agriculture/horticulture officer in writing, with your application number.
2. State grievance portal or helpline of the agriculture department.
3. CPGRAMS (pgportal.gov.in), choosing the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Complaints against an empanelled company about poor-quality pipes or emitters go to the same district office; companies can be blacklisted, and the system usually carries a warranty you should keep in writing.

Watch out for fake schemes and agents

Apply only on government portals ending in .gov.in or .nic.in, or at the department office. Ignore websites or callers promising "90% drip subsidy" for a registration fee. A company may help you fill the form, but you should never pay anyone to get selected.

For crop loan costs, see the interest subvention scheme; for farm machinery, see our tractor and farm equipment subsidy guide.

Key takeaways

• Per Drop More Crop pays 55% (small and marginal) or 45% (others) of drip or sprinkler cost, up to 5 hectares, as of October 2026.
• It moved from PMKSY to PM-RKVY in 2022-23 but is still active; some states add a top-up.
• Subsidy is usually calculated on the lower of your cost or the state's unit cost norm.
• Apply through your state agriculture/horticulture portal and install only after pre-sanction.
• The same land qualifies again only after 7 years; never pay agents for selection.