Andhra Pradesh Micro Irrigation Project (APMIP)
Drip and sprinkler subsidy that runs from 100% for SC/ST small farmers down to 50% for large holdings, covering horticulture, sericulture, sugarcane and pulses.
Run by: Department of Horticulture, Government of Andhra Pradesh
- SC/ST, up to 5 acres
- 100% subsidy, ₹2L cap
- Other small/marginal
- 90% subsidy, ₹2L cap
- Medium (5-10 acres)
- 70% subsidy, ₹2.8L cap
- Large (above 10 acres)
- 50% subsidy, ₹4L cap
Overview
APMIP was set up as a Special Purpose Vehicle in November 2003 to run every micro-irrigation subsidy in Andhra Pradesh through one institution instead of scattering it across departments. It has stayed the state's main channel for drip and sprinkler support ever since, and Andhra Pradesh now leads the country in micro-irrigation coverage — 1.26 lakh hectares brought under drip and sprinkler in 2025-26 alone, with over ₹103 crore released as subsidy to more than one lakh farmers that year.
The subsidy is steepest for the farmers who can least afford a full-cost system. SC/ST farmers with up to 5 acres get the entire cost of a drip system covered, capped at ₹2 lakh. Other small and marginal farmers in the same land bracket get 90%, medium farmers (5-10 acres) get 70%, and farmers above 10 acres still get 50% support, capped at ₹4 lakh. Sprinkler systems carry their own, lower subsidy band for all categories.
Eligible crops sit on a notified list rather than "any crop" — drip subsidy currently covers banana, papaya, mango, turmeric, citrus varieties, pomegranate and vegetables, while sprinkler and rain-gun systems are notified separately for groundnut and Bengal gram. Applications are now tracked through a "Paperless Transaction" mobile app alongside the older Rythu Seva Kendra paper process, so a farmer can check status without a repeat visit to the office.
Since 2025 the project has moved into automation — 16 empanelled companies now supply drip systems with solenoid valves, soil-moisture sensors and automated fertigation units, not just plain pipes and emitters, so a farmer applying today gets a more capable system than one installed a decade ago for a comparable subsidy share.
What you get
The benefit as the state notifies it — nothing here is an estimate.
- 100% subsidy on drip irrigation for SC/ST small and marginal farmers (up to 5 acres), capped at ₹2 lakh.
- 90% subsidy for other small and marginal farmers in the same land bracket, same ₹2 lakh cap.
- 70% subsidy for medium farmers (5-10 acres), capped at ₹2.8 lakh; 50% for farmers above 10 acres, capped at ₹4 lakh.
- Sprinkler systems get their own subsidy band for every category, useful for crops and soils where drip is not the right fit.
- Covers horticulture, sericulture and select agriculture crops — sugarcane and pulses — not just fruits and vegetables.
Who is eligible
State schemes usually state their criteria as prose rather than a checklist. This is that prose, unpacked — the department’s verification is what decides.
You qualify if
- Farmer with agricultural land in Andhra Pradesh growing an eligible horticulture, sericulture, sugarcane or pulses crop
- Land held in the farmer's own name, established through pattadar passbook or Adangal extract
- Area claimed within the subsidy ceiling for the farmer's category (5, 10 acres, or above)
- A live bank account in the applicant's name, for subsidy transfer
Not covered
- Land beyond the subsidy ceiling for the applicant's category
- Systems purchased or installed before sanction through an empanelled company
- Crops not covered under the notified list for the scheme year
Documents you need
Have these ready before you start — most rejections are a missing paper, not a missing right.
- Land document — pattadar passbook or Adangal extract
- Aadhaar card
- Bank passbook or account proof with a live account
- Passport-size photograph
How to apply
Fewer steps than a central scheme, and usually one office rather than a portal.
- 1
Register at the Rythu Seva Kendra
Approach the village-level Rythu Seva Kendra (RSK) or the village agricultural/horticulture assistant with your land and identity documents to register for the scheme year.
- 2
Selection of empanelled company and estimate
Choose from the empanelled micro-irrigation companies operating in your district; the company prepares a cost estimate against your land area and crop.
- 3
Installation and subsidy release
The system is installed after sanction, verified by APMIP field staff, and the subsidy share is credited to your bank account while you pay only your share of the cost.
If something goes wrong
Missing from the list, or payment stuck — here is the channel the department itself publishes for it.
- For a stuck application, a wrong subsidy sanction, or an installed system with faulty components, first contact your District Micro Irrigation Officer (DMIO) — every district's APMIP page lists that officer's direct number, and the toll-free 1800-425-2960 also reaches the project's central helpline.
- Because the empanelled company is paid directly against your sanction, most installation disputes are really with that company, not APMIP staff — raise it with the DMIO in writing so it is logged against the company's empanelment record, not just mentioned verbally to the field assistant.
- If the DMIO does not resolve it, escalate through Spandana, the state's Aadhaar-linked public grievance system, either online at spandana.ap.gov.in or by calling 1902 — you get a tracking number and can reopen the case if the resolution isn't satisfactory.
Frequently asked questions
I am not SC/ST but I only have 3 acres. What subsidy do I get?
You fall in the "other small and marginal farmer" category — 90% subsidy on drip, capped at ₹2 lakh, the same land ceiling as the SC/ST 100% band.
Can I get subsidy for sugarcane or pulses, not just vegetables?
Yes. APMIP covers horticulture and sericulture crops as well as sugarcane and pulses under agriculture, subject to the notified crop list for the scheme year.
Do I have to buy the drip system myself and claim later?
No. You select from empanelled companies after sanction; the company installs the system and the subsidy is settled directly, so you pay only your share of the cost, not the full amount upfront.
Which crops exactly qualify for the drip subsidy?
The notified list currently includes banana, papaya, mango, turmeric, citrus varieties, pomegranate and vegetables for drip; groundnut and Bengal gram are notified separately for sprinkler and rain-gun systems. Check with your RSK for the current year's exact list before you apply.
Can I check my application status without visiting the office?
Yes. APMIP runs a "Paperless Transaction" mobile app, with a user manual available on the official site's downloads section, so you can track sanction and installation status directly.
The company installed a cheaper system than what I was sanctioned for. What do I do?
Report it in writing to your District Micro Irrigation Officer rather than only the field assistant — this ties the complaint to the company's empanelment record and is more likely to get the shortfall corrected.
Facts checked against horticulturedept.ap.gov.in on 8 September 2026. editorial policy.