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As temperatures rose in June this year, Jaman Singh Saini, a 69-year-old farmer from Bad a ngarh village injhunjhunu district of Raj asthan, was irrigating his 31-acre farmland of millets, using an electric pump which came with its own challenges -erratic electricity supply, voltage fluctuation and associated costs.
About 10 years ago, in 2013, Saini had attempted to overcome these challenges by opting for a solar pump through a government scheme. He had invested Rs. 1.2 lakh, in addition to the subsidy, to setup a 3.5 horsepower (HP) solar water pump. Initially, the solar water pump served its purpose, but in 2016, the groundwater level dropped below 400 feet, exceeding the maximum operational capacity of the subsidised solar pump, which could function only to a depth of 320 feet (100 metres). With no viable usage, Saini decided to sell off the solar panels and the pump and now relies on his electricity-powered pump for irrigation.
Like, Saini, there are many farmers in the area who have installed solar pumps in their farm lands. In farms that were near Katli river, which originates from the Aravali range, few solar pumps were functioning, supporting sprinklers, as the groundwater level was up to 200 feet. But in most places, farmers regret their decision to invest in solar pumps.
Another farmer, 35-year-old Manoj Kumar, who lives a few kilometers away in Chainpura village, installed solar pumps in November 2022 under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme with a 60% government subsidy. He had hoped for a permanent and effective solution to irrigate his farm. However, due to the depleting groundwater, his solar setup too has now become redundant, he shared with Mongabay-India while repairing a fence to protect his crops from wild animals. He has now sold his solar panels.
Saini and Kumars stories highlight the challenges faced by farmers in adapting to renewable energy solutions amidst unpredictable groundwater levels in Rajasthan. |
