Modernization of Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CADWM) Scheme

Modernization of Command Area Development and Water Management Scheme Latest News

The Union Cabinet recently approved the ‘Modernisation of Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CADWM)’ as a sub-scheme of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).

About Modernization of Command Area Development and Water Management Scheme

• It is a sub-scheme of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).
• This initiative, with an initial outlay of ₹1,600 crore, is set to run from 2025-2026 and is designed to significantly enhance the irrigation infrastructure in India.
• The key goal of the M-CADWM is to modernise the irrigation water supply network, ensuring that irrigation water reaches the designated farming clusters from existing canals or other water sources. 
• This will help farmers with small land-holdings, by improving water-use efficiency through the use of advanced technologies such as SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) and the Internet of Things (IoT). 
• These technologies will assist in better water accounting and management, directly contributing to increased Water Use Efficiency (WUE) at the farm level.
• A key feature of the M-CADWM scheme is the implementation of underground pressurised, piped irrigation systems, extending up to 1 hectare per farm. 
• This infrastructure will be developed to enhance micro-irrigation practices, enabling farmers to use water more effectively and ultimately increasing agricultural production and productivity.
• In addition to modernising the irrigation systems, the scheme aims to build sustainable farming practices.
  • It proposes the Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT) to Water User Societies (WUS), empowering these communities to manage irrigation assets independently. 
  • To ensure long-term success, these societies will receive support for the next five years, helping them connect with Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) or Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS). 
  • This is expected to profitably improve sustainable water management practices.
• The M-CADWM scheme also seeks to make agriculture more appealing to youth by encouraging the adoption of modern irrigation techniques, creating new opportunities for young people in the agricultural sector. 

Modernization of Command Area Development and Water Management Scheme FAQs

Q1. When did the command area development program start?

Ans. The Command Area Development & Water Management (CADWM) Program was started as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in the year 1974-75.

Q2. What is the basic concept of command area?

Ans. The command area is the geographical area that receives water from an irrigation system, such as a canal network or a drip irrigation system.

Q3. Modernization of Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CADWM) Scheme is a sub-scheme of which major program?

Ans. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)

Source: TH