Wednesday, November 16 2005 17:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: A proposal to double farm subsidy for micro-irrigation projects will be placed before the Cabinet soon, a top farm ministry official has said.

"A proposal to raise subsidy on micro irrigation projects would be put before the Cabinet," Agriculture Secretary Radha Singh told reporters on the eve of an international seminar on plasticulture and precision farming here.

The secretary said the proposal would be put before the Cabinet for its consideration early next month.

It has been proposed to enhance the subsidy component on micro-irrigation projects to 50 per cent from the current level of 25 per cent, she said.

The proposal also favours 40 per cent central share along with 10 per cent matching share from state governments for the micro-irrigation subsidy scheme.

On use of plastics in agriculture, Singh said use of plasticulture and precision farming has been found useful in a country like India, where 60 per cent of agriculture is rain fed and availability of water is coming under increasing stress.

The secretary also said the use of plastics in irrigation projects enhances utilisation of fertilisers at fields.