Urging his Government to treat a likely below-normal monsoon as an opportunity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for the quick adoption of a multi-pronged strategy to enhance India's irrigation network here on Monday.

Addressing officials from the Ministries of Agriculture, Water Resources, Rural Development, and Finance, as well as the NITI Aayog and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Modi asked for a re-examination of administrative mechanisms, financial arrangements, and technology applications in the irrigation sector, according to an official release.

"Reviewing the preparations for the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, the Prime Minister said expansion of irrigation has to be linked with a comprehensive evaluation of cropping patterns across States, as well as a judicious mix of modern and micro irrigation systems such as drip and sprinkler irrigation. Simultaneously, a thorough study should be made of various traditional irrigation methods across the country," the release said.

Modi also highlighted that young university researchers should be involved in planning irrigation policy, which he said should be worked out at the district level.

He also noted that falling groundwater levels in some states made it essential to bring an urgent shift in cropping patterns and called for a focus on maize and value-additions for the crop to make it attractive for farmers.

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