Balram Talab Yojana
40–75% subsidy, up to about ₹1 lakh, to dig an on-farm pond that stores rainwater for protective irrigation and can also be stocked with fish.
Run by: Department of Farmer Welfare and Agriculture Development, Government of Madhya Pradesh
- General category
- 40% of cost, up to ₹80,000
- Small/marginal farmers
- 50% of cost, up to ₹80,000
- SC/ST farmers
- 75% of cost, up to ₹1 lakh
- Purpose
- Rainwater storage + fish
- Running since
- 2007
- Portal
- e-Krishi Yantra Anudan (DBT)
Overview
A farm pond is one of the cheapest ways to buy insurance against a dry spell — it catches monsoon runoff that would otherwise drain away and holds it for a critical irrigation at flowering or grain-fill stage. Balram Talab Yojana pays a large share of the digging cost for exactly this.
The subsidy rate is tiered by category: general-category farmers get 40% of the construction cost, capped at ₹80,000; small and marginal farmers get 50%, also capped at ₹80,000; and SC/ST farmers get the highest share, 75%, capped at ₹1 lakh. Many farmers also stock the finished pond with fish for an extra income stream on top of the irrigation benefit.
The scheme has been running since 2007. In its early years alone — from launch through 31 March 2010 — it supported 7,518 beneficiaries across Madhya Pradesh, and it has continued since as one of the state's standing farm-water-conservation schemes.
What you get
The benefit as the state notifies it — nothing here is an estimate.
- 40% subsidy (up to ₹80,000) for general-category farmers, 50% (up to ₹80,000) for small/marginal farmers, and 75% (up to ₹1 lakh) for SC/ST farmers.
- Stored rainwater gives protective irrigation during a dry spell in kharif or rabi.
- Pond can be stocked with fish for an additional income source.
- Applied and tracked through the state's DBT portal, like other MP farm-machinery subsidies.
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 Madhya Pradesh suitable for a farm pond
- Registered on the e-Krishi Yantra Anudan / MP DBT portal
- Land not already having an existing farm pond claimed under this or a similar scheme
Not covered
- Land already covered by a farm pond built under another subsidy for the same purpose
Documents you need
Have these ready before you start — most rejections are a missing paper, not a missing right.
- Aadhaar card
- Land record (B-1/khasra)
- Bank passbook
- Caste certificate, where claiming the SC/ST subsidy rate
How to apply
Fewer steps than a central scheme, and usually one office rather than a portal.
- 1
Apply on the DBT portal
Register and apply for the farm-pond subsidy on dbt.mpdage.org with land and bank details.
- 2
Approval and pond construction
After sanction, construct the pond as per the technical specification given by the department.
- 3
Verification and subsidy release
The department verifies the completed pond before releasing the subsidy amount via DBT.
If something goes wrong
Missing from the list, or payment stuck — here is the channel the department itself publishes for it.
- Delays in sanction, construction verification or subsidy release should first be raised with the district Farmer Welfare and Agriculture Development office.
- If unresolved, escalate to the CM Helpline — Madhya Pradesh's general public-grievance system — on the toll-free number 181 (7am–11pm) or through the portal at cmhelpline.mp.gov.in.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the pond for fish farming too?
Yes, many farmers stock the finished pond with fish alongside using it for irrigation storage.
Is the subsidy rate the same for everyone?
No — it is tiered: 40% (up to ₹80,000) for general-category farmers, 50% (up to ₹80,000) for small/marginal farmers, and 75% (up to ₹1 lakh) for SC/ST farmers.
Do I apply before or after digging the pond?
Apply and get sanction first — subsidy is normally released after department verification of a pond built to the approved specification, not for work already completed without prior approval.
How long has this scheme been running, and how many farmers has it actually helped?
It has run since 2007. In just its first few years, from launch through 31 March 2010, it supported 7,518 beneficiaries across Madhya Pradesh, and it has continued as a standing scheme since.
Facts checked against dbt.mpdage.org on 8 September 2026. editorial policy.