Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Haryana Plans World Bank-Backed Water Security Agriculture Programme
Haryana plans a new programme to save water and improve farming.
It is called Water Secure Haryana.
The programme will fix some fields that have too much water or salt in the soil.
Farmers will be encouraged to grow crops that use less water.
They will also be encouraged to use Direct Seeded Rice and other modern farming methods.
Some land will be used for alternative crops instead of water-intensive crops.
The plan is expected to run from 2026 to 2032.
It could cost Rs.
5,714.80 crore, with most of the money proposed from the World Bank.
The World Bank will release money when agreed targets are achieved.
Haryana will implement the six-year Water Secure Haryana programme from 2026 to 2032.
The programme aims to reclaim waterlogged and saline-affected land and promote water-efficient, climate-smart farming.
Authorities have targeted 2 lakh acres for land reclamation and 5 lakh acres for Direct Seeded Rice.
Alternative crops will be promoted across 1.12 lakh acres under the Mera Pani Meri Virasat scheme.
The programme is estimated to cost Rs. 5,714.80 crore, with 70% proposed from the World Bank and 30% from Haryana.
- Who
- Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana, the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, the World Bank and participating farmers.
- What
- Haryana is proposing the Water Secure Haryana programme to improve water security, reclaim damaged farmland and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
- When
- The programme is proposed for 2026–2032, with final World Bank loan approval targeted for October 2026.
- Where
- Haryana, including waterlogging- and salinity-affected districts such as Jhajjar and Rohtak, and Cluster-5 districts Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind and Karnal.
- Why
- To conserve water, reduce cultivation of water-intensive crops, promote climate-smart farming and increase farmers’ income.
- Programme period
- 2026 to 2032
- Estimated total cost
- Rs. 5,714.80 crore
- Proposed World Bank share
- 70%, or Rs. 4,000.36 crore
- Haryana government share
- 30%, or Rs. 1,714.44 crore
- Land reclamation target
- 2.0 lakh acres under Cluster-13
- Direct Seeded Rice target
- 5.0 lakh acres under Cluster-5
- Agriculture component budget
- Rs. 886.00 crore, including Rs. 436.00 crore for land reclamation and Rs. 450.00 crore for DSR, crop diversification, green manuring and gypsum