Micro irrigation plan needed to tackle climate risks: Nabard

Panaji: Highlighting Goa’s vulnerability to climate change, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) recommended that state govt prepare a micro irrigation plan, particularly for remote villages. Nabard said it was willing to support Goa to promote climate-smart agriculture through micro irrigation, soil health management, and integrated farming.

“Goa should prepare a micro-irrigation fund-backed plan focusing on horticulture belts and khazan fields to boost yields and conserve water, especially as rainfall variability intensifies,” said Nabard in its state focus paper for 2026-27.


Centre created an MIF with a corpus of Rs 5,000 crore with Nabard to facilitate the states in mobilising the resources for expanding coverage of micro irrigation by taking up special and innovative projects, and also for incentivising micro irrigation to encourage farmers to install such systems.

Nabard also recommended tail-end distribution and modernisation of pumping systems, including storage tanks that serve remote villages. Renewable energy adoption, including solar pumps and biogas plants, will be scaled up under schemes, the report said.

Goa’s vulnerability to climate change, particularly in coastal areas, necessitates urgent adaptation measures, said the state focus paper.

Nabard said it was willing to promote climate-smart agriculture through micro irrigation, soil health management, and integrated farming. Precision farming, digital soil health monitoring, and adoption of IoT-based irrigation systems will be encouraged.