🌿 Rajasthan Farm Pond Scheme: Water Harvesting & Subsidies

Rajasthan is India's largest and driest state, facing severe groundwater depletion. To secure irrigation water and encourage rainwater harvesting, the Department of Agriculture, Government of Rajasthan, offers the highly successful Farm Pond Scheme (Krishi Talab Yojana). Under this scheme, farmers receive substantial financial subsidies to dig and line a farm pond on their land. The pond captures rainwater during the monsoon, which can then be used for life-saving irrigation during dry winter and summer months. The scheme is categorized into two types: plastic-lined ponds (plastic geomembrane HDPE lining to prevent seepage) and raw unlined ponds. Due to high evaporation and seepage in sandy soils, plastic-lined ponds are heavily promoted, with the government offering a 60% subsidy (up to ₹90,000) for small, marginal, and women farmers, and a 50% subsidy (up to ₹75,000) for general category farmers.

To apply, a farmer must own a minimum of 0.3 hectares of cultivable land. The standard dimensions required for a subsidized farm pond are 20m x 20m x 3m (with a water storage capacity of approximately 12 lakh liters). To prevent water seepage into the sandy soil, lining the pond with a government-approved 300 to 500-micron high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane sheet is mandatory under the plastic-lined pond category.

Digging a lined farm pond under the Rajasthan scheme completely transforms farming:

• Double Crop Harvesting: Captured rainwater enables farmers to easily grow a second crop (Rabi crop like mustard or wheat) in dry winter, instead of relying solely on rain-fed Kharif crops.
• 100% Water Conservation: Geomembrane HDPE lining prevents water from seeping into the sand, retaining water for up to 6 months post-monsoon.
• Integration with Drip Irrigation: Pumping water from the farm pond through a drip irrigation system saves water and ensures record harvests.

Rajasthan farm ponds serve as vital micro-ecosystems. The permanent water bodies attract local birds, bees, and beneficial insects, while providing a clean water source for livestock. Additionally, farmers can use the pond for organic aquaculture (fish farming) to generate secondary income.

Safety is paramount for open farm ponds to prevent accidental drowning of livestock or wildlife. Farmers are required to install strong wire-mesh fencing around the entire perimeter of the pond. Keep escape ropes or wooden ladders inside the pond corner to allow exit in case of accidental entry.

Having a farm pond allows farmers to shift from low-value millets to high-value organic horticulture crops like Pomegranate, Ber (Indian Plum), and Lemon, generating high profits in urban markets.