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. 

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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