Irrigation facility made easy for farmers: Production and income increased
Farmers are getting solar pumps at subsidized rates from Solar Sujala Yojana, they
are earning extra from farming, fish farming and vegetable production
Raipur, 10 February 2023
Adequate irrigation along with proper care is also necessary for good yield of the crop. Access to water to the fields has been a major problem for farmers in geographically inaccessible and unelectrified areas. Solar energy is emerging as a big advantage in these areas. Hundreds of farmers in the remote Vananchal areas of North Bastar Kanker district are irrigating their fields by installing solar pumps through Saur Sujala Yojana. Due to this, the fields have started getting plenty of water, due to which the production has also increased. Due to the availability of water, many farmers have also started earning extra by taking fish farming and additional crops in the middle of the fields. While the farmers have got rid of the problem of power failure and huge electricity bills by running the pump on solar energy, the water level of the land does not fall due to the time of water recharging at night.
Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA) is providing solar pumps to the farmers at a subsidized rate in these areas for the purpose of providing irrigation facilities to the farmers of remote forest covered inaccessible places. Under the scheme, more than 90 percent subsidy is being provided by the state government. 5 horse power pumps are being provided to SC and ST farmers for Rs 10,000, to other backward classes at Rs 15,000 and to the general category at Rs 20,000. Similarly, 3 horse power pumps are provided to scheduled caste and tribe farmers for Rs 7,000, other backward classes for Rs 12,000 and general category for Rs 18,000. Now the sunlight has started quenching the thirst of the fields, In Kanker district itself, under the scheme, 7 thousand 89 pumps have been installed in 6 thousand 821 farmers’ fields and 268 Gauthan pastures. Maintenance of solar pump is also done by CREDA for 5 years. Due to which irrigation has now become easy for the farmers.
There is no dependence on rain for farming
Farmer Sitaram of Surungdoh village of Durgukondal development block told that it is very difficult to reach the power line due to his farm being in the hilly area. In the absence of irrigation facilities, they depended only on rain water for farming. When he came to know about Saur Sujala Yojana, a new option of irrigation without electricity came in front of him. He installed a three horse power solar pump in his farm. Due to the increase in irrigation facilities, he is also doing vegetable farming and fish farming along with maize production, due to which he earns a good income.
Farmers’ income increased due to availability of water
Hundreds of farmers of Koylibeda development block, about 150 kilometers away from the district headquarters, are also taking advantage of the Saur Sujala Yojana. Parimal Bose, a farmer of Ram Krishnapur of the area, said that he has installed a 5 horse power solar pump in his field. They are doing fish farming by filling water in the pond with the help of solar pump. Due to this, he is getting an income of about 03 lakh rupees in a year. Along with this, 04 lakh is being earned from the cultivation of maize in the fields.
Now the fields flourish throughout the year
Similarly, Jhitku Ram Taram, a farmer of remote and forestless village Useli of Antagarh development block, told that his two acres of land is located near Dudh Nala. Despite the water level remaining in the land throughout the year, he could not do farming due to lack of irrigation facilities. As soon as he got information about Saur Sujala Yojana, he got a 5 horse power solar powered irrigation pump installed in his fields. With the solution of irrigation problem, he is now producing vegetables like chilli, onion, tomato as well as pulse crops, due to which he earns a good income. Now there is greenery in the fields all year round, Due to which they are very happy. The farm of Mrs. Sukontin Shorey, a farmer of Nishanharra village of Narharpur development block, was also away from electricity due to being in a hilly area. Earlier she used to do rainfed farming. Now she has started irrigating the fields with the help of three horse power solar pumps. She is getting good income by producing other vegetables like tomato, bitter gourd, gourd by irrigating through drip system.
