Solar-powered water pumping system has proved as a useful tool in far-flung areas of Chhattisgarh as the farmers do not have to make arrangements for electricity or diesel pumps for meeting their irrigation needs.
likewise, the solar technology has helped the farmers of Rajnandgaon district to generate a good harvest on their farm lands, courtesy Chhattisgarh State Renewable Energy Development Authority (CREDA).
CREDA has provided solar-powered water pump sets to as many as eight farmers of the district for irrigation, an official press release issued here on Friday stated.
Hariram Sahu and Bhukhan Verma from Danganiya village and Kaluram and Ghanshyam Sahu from Kanketara village are among the beneficiaries. The solar-powered water pumps have reduced their dependency on electricity and diesel-run pump to draw water for irrigation.
CREDA Executive Engineer, PK Jain informed that the solar-powered pumps are of 2–3 Horsepower (HP) and able to save 10–12 units of electricity every day in fetching water for irrigation. While the cost of 2 HP solar water pump is Rs 65,000, the expenditure for installation of 3 HP water pump is Rs 85,000.
The farmers can also utilise the solar generated electricity to power electronic equipment in their house situated near the pump, added Jain. Notably, solar-powered irrigation pump sets have proved to be a boon for the farmers in different parts of the State as they faced the brunt of erratic power supply and high cost of diesel. The technology has been successful in addressing the irrigation woes of the farmers.