While farmers of Ganjam district are showing more interest to have solar pump-run dug wells for undertaking vegetable farming, the State Government has decided to sanction more such pumps at subsidised rates.
Sources said Agriculture Production Commissioner Gagan Kumar Dhal has impressed upon the State Government in this regard following his visit to the district recently.
He talked to a large number of famers, who requested him to sanction solar pumps so that they can undertake vegetable and pulses cultivation on non-irrigated and barren lands and raise thier income.
In view of increasing demand for dug wells among farmers, the district administration has taken up an ambitious programme to set up at least 3,000 such wells during the current year.
In fact, groundwater is mainly used for domestic and irrigation purposes in the district.
While a dug well can irrigate up to four hectares land, as many as 19,323 more dug wells can be constructed for irrigation purposes in the district, said a report prepared on groundwater system in Ganjam.
And generally farmers are opting for solar pumps for energising dug wells as compared to electric pumps. According to farmers, solar pumps provide adequate supply of water for vegetables.
Farmers who use small solar pump for undertaking vegetable farming get an income of Rs 50,000 in the very first year.
In view of this, officers feel that migration problem would be curbed if farmers are provided solar pumps for undertaking vegetable and pulses farming.
Apart from providing water to farmers through the day, solar pumps are also helpful to small and marginal farmers in remote areas where there is no electricity connectivity.
However, these pumps are not viable for small farmers if not provided with a subsidy.
Hence, the Deputy Director of Agriculture, Ganjam has urged the Director of Agriculture to allot at least 500 solar pumps to the district to meet the demand of the needy farmers.
In the light of the State Government’s goal of doubling farm income by 2022, these solar pump-run dug wells can be significant contributors, pointed out a senior official of the DRDA, Ganjam.