Over ₹90 crore in pending funds allocated to the Agriculture Department; learn when and how farmers will receive the subsidy.
There’s news of relief for farmers in Rajasthan. The path has been cleared for the payment of a long-pending subsidy of approximately ₹158 crore under the Atal Groundwater Scheme.
The state government has decided to pay the outstanding amount from the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF). This will provide relief to farmers who have completed the work required under the scheme but have not yet received the subsidy.
Atal Groundwater Scheme was implemented in 17 districts
The Atal Bhujal Yojana, operated by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, was implemented in 17 districts of Rajasthan on April 1, 2020. The scheme’s primary objective was to improve groundwater levels, conserve water, and promote efficient water use.
Under this scheme, farmers were provided subsidies for a variety of agricultural activities. The scheme included activities such as farm ponds, diggis, irrigation pipelines, agricultural equipment, crop rotation minikits, sprinklers, mini sprinklers, and drip irrigation.
Eligible farmers were to receive subsidies for these activities as per the prescribed rules. However, due to the scheme’s implementation being discontinued after October 15, 2025, and delays in administrative approvals, a large number of farmers’ subsidy funds remained pending.
Subsidy worth Rs 158 crore was pending
Under the Atal Groundwater Scheme, approximately ₹158 crore in subsidy payments to farmers in Rajasthan were pending. This includes approximately ₹90.91 crore from the Agriculture Department and ₹66.16 crore from the Horticulture Department.
Due to the pending subsidy payments, farmers who had invested independently under the scheme had been awaiting their payments for a long time. Now, with the state government’s decision to provide a budget, these farmers are expected to find relief.
The Centre was requested to pay
The Rajasthan government repeatedly requested the Central Government’s Jal Shakti Ministry for pending subsidy payments. Correspondence and efforts were also made with the Chief Minister, Agriculture and Horticulture Minister, Chairman of the Rajasthan Farmers Commission, and Chief Secretary. However, citing the closure of the scheme and delays in administrative approvals, the central government expressed its inability to make the pending payments. Following this, a solution was sought at the state level to clear the pending amount.
Chief Minister took decision on pending payments
In light of farmers’ pending subsidy payments, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma decided to make payments at the state level. Under this initiative, pending funds will be released from the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF). This decision will directly benefit farmers who completed approved work under the Atal Groundwater Scheme but were unable to receive their subsidy due to the scheme’s closure or other administrative reasons.
A budget of Rs 90.91 crore has been allocated for the Agriculture Department.
The Finance Department has approved the payment of pending liabilities under the Atal Groundwater Scheme. Following this, Agriculture Commissioner Naresh Goyal has issued budget allocation orders to the concerned Zila Parishads and District Agriculture Officers. Officials have been instructed to complete the verification of eligible farmers quickly and expedite the payment process.
Currently, a budget has been allocated for the payment of the pending amount of approximately ₹90.91 crore related to the Agriculture Department. Separate action is also being taken to pay the outstanding amount of approximately ₹66.16 crore of the Horticulture Department.
Which farmers will get the benefit
Eligible farmers who completed farm ponds, diggis, drip irrigation, sprinklers, irrigation pipelines, agricultural machinery, or other approved projects under the Atal Bhujal Yojana (Attal Ground Water Scheme) and whose subsidies were still pending will benefit from this decision. According to the Rajasthan government,
pending subsidies will be paid after verification of eligible farmers and completion of the necessary procedures. This will ensure farmers receive the pending funds for their investments and is also expected to promote water conservation and micro-irrigation-based farming.