Solar Pumping for Irrigation: Improving livelihood and sustainability
Raipur: Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency’s (CREDA’s) initiative to provide solar pumps for irrigation has made a significant impact on farmers’ lives. The financial situation of farmers has improved after installing solar pumps in remote forest areas. The Saur Sujla Yojana is proving effective in providing farmers with more autonomy. Farmers can now cultivate maize, vegetables, and other crops due to the installation of solar pumps.
It is worth mentioning, to promote non-conventional sources of energy in the state under the Saur Sujla Yojana; CREDA has installed more than 1.37 lakh solar pumps to provide irrigation to farmers, making Chhattisgarh the state with the highest number of solar pumps installed in the country. Additionally, the state has also received the Best Performance State Nodal Agency award for its outstanding performance in the installation of solar irrigation pumps. Farmers can now cultivate vegetables along with other crops due to the installation of solar pumps that have doubled their source of income along with the increase in yield. Solar irrigation pumps are provided to the farmers at concessional rates by the State Government’s Agriculture Department and CREDA. Priority to install solar pumps is given to such areas where electricity poles cannot be installed.
Shri Sukhram Prajapati, a farmer from the village Kudeli in the development block Baikunthpur of Koriya district stated that he owns around 5 acres of arable land. Initially, he used to cultivate wheat, but due to the lack of rainfall, proper irrigation was not feasible. However, since the installation of a 3 HP solar pump in his fields, his fields thrive with crops all year long. He mentioned that his income has increased to more than Rs 60,000, and he is very happy with the results. Now, he cultivates paddy and vegetables on the same 5 acres.
Similarly, Shri Mohar Lal from the village of Keshgawan also stated that before the installation of solar pumps, he could only grow paddy in his fields. However, after installing the solar pump, he not only succeeded in cultivating other crops but also witnessed a significant improvement in his income.
Farmer Smt. Malti Bai Dhanelia of Kuwapani village in Bhanupratappur development block stated that her farm was in a hilly area. In the absence of irrigation, she relied on traditional rain-fed farming. Ever since she installed a three-horsepower solar pump on her land, using which she irrigated her fields and produced pulses and oilseeds. As a result, her economic condition improved. Along with this, she earns 50,000-60,000 rupees annually from fish farming in her private pond. She expressed gratitude to the government for launching Saur Sujla Yojana, which played a crucial role in changing her economic condition.
These experiences illustrate the greater benefits of the implementation of Saur Sujla Yojana in the state. The implementation of the Saur Sujla Yojana and the use of solar pumps have proved beneficial for these farmers, enabling them to achieve better agricultural productivity and higher earnings from their land.
