Micro-irrigation is an important intervention promoted by the Virudhunagar District Horticulture Department to help farmers use limited water resources more efficiently. It is implemented under the Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). Tamil Nadu’s Horticulture Department continues to list PDMC as a current scheme in 2026.
What is micro-irrigation?
Micro-irrigation is a method of supplying water directly and efficiently to the crop’s root zone rather than distributing large quantities of water across the entire field.
The two main systems promoted are:
- Drip irrigation – water is delivered slowly and directly near the roots through emitters.
- Sprinkler irrigation – water is distributed through sprinklers in a controlled manner.
These systems are particularly useful for horticultural crops such as fruits, vegetables, flowers and other crops where efficient water management is important.
Why is it important for Virudhunagar?
Water availability is a major consideration for farming in Virudhunagar. Micro-irrigation can help farmers make better use of available groundwater and other irrigation sources.
The Tamil Nadu Agriculture Department states that micro-irrigation can improve water-use efficiency by around 40–60% through more judicious use of water. It can also improve fertiliser-use efficiency, reduce fertiliser wastage, control weed growth and significantly reduce labour costs.
For farmers cultivating horticultural crops, this can be particularly valuable because many fruit and vegetable crops require careful and regular water management.
Main objectives
The programme is intended to:
- Improve water-use efficiency
- Reduce unnecessary water loss
- Increase crop productivity
- Reduce irrigation-related labour requirements
- Improve fertiliser-use efficiency
- Reduce weed growth
- Encourage modern irrigation practices
- Help farmers cultivate more efficiently with limited water
- Support expansion of horticultural cultivation where water availability is a constraint
The broader PMKSY objective is to improve on-farm water-use efficiency and reduce wastage of irrigation water.
Subsidy support
One of the major attractions of the Tamil Nadu micro-irrigation programme is the subsidy support.
Under the current Tamil Nadu Horticulture Department’s citizen charter:
| Farmer category | Subsidy | Maximum area |
|---|---|---|
| Small & marginal farmers | 100% | Up to 2 hectares |
| Other farmers | 75% | Up to 5 hectares |
The subsidy is subject to the applicable scheme conditions.
The scheme is a Centre-State shared programme with a 60:40 sharing pattern.
Who can apply?
The current Tamil Nadu guidelines state that farmers who own or share a water source with pumping facilities on their own land, or eligible farmers cultivating on registered lease land for the prescribed period, can access the scheme.
The programme is available across Tamil Nadu except Chennai.
Priority can also be given to categories such as small and marginal farmers, women farmers and SC/ST farmers, depending on the applicable implementation guidelines.
What crops can benefit?
The programme is intended for suitable horticultural and agricultural crops.
In Virudhunagar, this is relevant to crops such as:
- Mango
- Guava
- Banana
- Amla
- Tomato
- Brinjal
- Bhendi
- Onion
- Chilli
- Coriander
- Jasmine
- Tuberose
- Other suitable fruit, vegetable, flower and plantation crops
The precise crops and subsidy components depend on the scheme’s current crop-wise norms.
How farmers benefit
1. Saving water
Instead of applying water uniformly throughout a field, drip systems can deliver water close to the plant’s root zone. This reduces unnecessary losses.
2. Better crop growth
Regular and controlled irrigation can provide crops with more consistent moisture, which can support healthier plant growth and productivity.
3. Lower labour requirement
Automated or semi-automated irrigation reduces the need for farmers and farm workers to manually irrigate individual sections of a field.
4. Better fertiliser utilisation
With suitable systems, fertilisers can be supplied through irrigation water. The Agriculture Department notes that this can improve fertiliser-use efficiency and reduce wastage.
5. Weed control
Because water can be concentrated around the crop rather than distributed across the entire field, unnecessary moisture in spaces between plants can be reduced, helping control weed growth.
6. Potential expansion of cultivated area
Efficient use of water can potentially allow farmers to bring additional suitable land under cultivation where water availability previously limited expansion.
Application and implementation
Tamil Nadu operates the micro-irrigation programme through the Micro Irrigation Management and Information System (MIMIS).
The Department of Horticulture currently provides an online facility for farmers to apply for Micro Irrigation (MIMIS).
Farmers can also approach the local horticulture officials for assistance with eligibility, documentation, field verification and installation.
The department’s current guidance identifies officials at different levels, including:
- Village: Assistant Horticulture Officer
- Block: Assistant Director of Horticulture / Horticulture Officer / Deputy Horticulture Officer
- District: Deputy Director / Joint Director of Horticulture
Agriculture Department officials also participate in implementation where agricultural crops are covered.
Documents generally required
The Tamil Nadu scheme information lists documents such as:
- Chitta
- Adangal
- Aadhaar copy
- Passport-size photographs
- Ration/Smart Card copy
- Field Measurement Book (FMB)
- Soil/water test report
- Bank account details
- Small/marginal farmer certificate, where applicable
The exact documents should be confirmed with the local department because requirements can change according to the current application process.
Long-term importance
Micro-irrigation is not simply an irrigation subsidy. It is part of a broader effort to make agriculture more water-efficient and climate-resilient.
For a water-constrained district such as Virudhunagar, wider adoption can help farmers:
Use less water → reduce irrigation losses → lower labour needs → improve crop management → increase productivity → potentially improve farm income.
The programme also fits into Tamil Nadu’s broader horticulture strategy of promoting high-tech cultivation, crop diversification and efficient use of water resources. The state has continued to list Per Drop More Crop among its active horticulture schemes in 2026.