Life-Saving Irrigation Scheme launched to protect orchards in Sri Sathya Sai district

With borewells drying up and horticulture crops wilting due to El Niño-induced heat and deficient rainfall, the Andhra Pradesh Horticulture Department has launched the Life-Saving Irrigation (LSI) Scheme to protect orchards.Speaking to the media here on Sunday, Sri Sathya Sai District Horticulture Officer G. Chandrasekhar said the scheme would supply water through tankers to farmers whose borewells had completely dried up and whose orchards were at risk of withering. The government would bear 80% of the cost of water.Under the scheme, each tanker would carry 5,000 litres of water at a fixed cost of ₹780. The water requirement and subsidy would vary according to the crop.Sweet lime orchards would receive 20,000 litres (four tankers) per irrigation, once a week, for up to four irrigations a month, with a maximum subsidy of ₹9,984 per acre a month. Mango orchards would be supplied 15,000 litres (three tankers) once in 10 days, for up to three irrigations a month, with a subsidy of up to ₹5,616 per acre. Arecanut plantations would receive 25,000 litres (five tankers) per irrigation, once a week, for up to four irrigations a month, with a maximum subsidy of ₹12,480 per acre a month.A farmer’s family would be eligible for the scheme for a maximum of five acres. Eligible farmers must apply through their nearest Rythu Bharosa Kendra (RBK). Applications would be forwarded by the area Horticulture Officer to the District Horticulture Officer (DHO) for approval and issuance of a work order.Payment details would be compiled every 15 days and submitted to the District Collector for approval. After one cycle of four tanker trips, the next tranche would be released only after a gap of seven days.To ensure transparency, the tankers would be fitted with GPS devices and monitored through a dedicated app, which would go live after field verification, Mr. Chandrasekhar said. Published - October 11, 2026 06:12 pm IST