Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Irrigation Scheme Offers Tanker Water to Save Orchards
A new scheme aims to help farmers keep their fruit and nut trees alive when there is not enough water.
The Department of Horticulture will arrange water delivered by tanker.
The government will subsidize up to 80% of irrigation costs for eligible farmers.
The scheme covers sweet orange, mango and areca nut orchards.
Each crop has its own water schedule and maximum subsidy.
Farmers can qualify only if their borewells have completely dried up and their crops are withering.
A farming family can receive support for no more than five acres.
Farmers must apply at a nearby Rythu Seva Kendra, and a GPS-tracking app for tankers is planned.
The Department of Horticulture is implementing a life-saving irrigation scheme for orchards facing water shortages.
Eligible farmers can receive tanker-supplied water with a government subsidy covering up to 80% of irrigation costs.
The scheme covers sweet orange, mango and areca nut, with crop-specific water quantities and subsidy limits.
Eligibility is limited to farmers whose borewells have completely dried up and whose crops are at risk of withering; support is capped at five acres per farming family.
Farmers must apply at a nearby Rythu Seva Kendra; a GPS-tracking tanker app is planned after a field review.
- Who
- The Department of Horticulture and farmers with eligible orchards.
- What
- A life-saving irrigation scheme providing tanker-supplied water and subsidies covering up to 80% of irrigation costs.
- When
- The scheme is being implemented; applications are to be submitted as the process begins.
- Where
- Puttaparthi; applications are submitted at the nearest Rythu Seva Kendra.
- Why
- To safeguard orchards threatened by depleted groundwater, dry borewells, intense heat and deficient rainfall.
- Maximum subsidy
- Up to 80% of irrigation costs
- Family acreage limit
- Maximum five acres per farming family
- Sweet orange
- 20,000 litres (4 tankers) once a week, up to four times; maximum subsidy Rs 9,984 per acre
- Mango
- 15,000 litres (3 tankers) every 10 days, up to three times; maximum subsidy Rs 5,616 per acre
- Areca nut
- 25,000 litres (5 tankers) once a week, up to four times; maximum subsidy Rs 12,480 per acre
- Tanker capacity and cost
- 5,000 litres per tanker; Rs 780 per tanker
- Payment schedule
- Payments are processed fortnightly through the District Collector and the Directorate of Horticulture.