Over a period of 12 years, minor irrigation schemes in Goa have declined by 20.9% to 6,133. 739 (15%) groundwater schemes and 883 (30%) surface water schemes were no longer in use in the state, according to the Union Jal Shakti ministry’s data. The report also states that most individual-owned irrigation schemes, 90%, are financed by farmers themselves. Govt funded only 2.5% or 42 of the individual- owned irrigation schemes. Only a small chunk of 6.1% (377) of major irrigation schemes are publicly owned, the data says. The data shows the need to strengthen the network of minor irrigation structures for irrigation to improve the livelihood of small and marginal farmers, says the report. The rest of the 15.8% schemes are owned by semi-medium farmers to big farmers with holding size of more than 2 hectares, it says. This emphasises the need for strengthening the network for irrigation purposes which will play the crucial role of improving the livelihoods of farmers, it adds.