Alwar, Rajasthan - Solar Pumps Tool Alwar, Rajasthan | Solar Pumps Tool Humane ClubMade in Humane Club

Alwar, Rajasthan

It has a relatively small proportion of its net sown area unirrigated, indicating poor irrigation demand. Horticulture crops occupy a relatively low proportion of gross cropped area in the district, diminishing the economic viability of solar pumps here. Overall, the water availability for irrigation in the district (based on ground water development and long-term trends of water level decline) is critical since the resource is overexploited, jeopardizing the long-term sustainability of solar pumps. The average monthly per capita expenditure of rural agricultural households is relatively high for the district, suggesting higher purchasing capacity of the farmers here. The number of medium and long-term institutional loans disbursed in the district is comparatively large, suggesting the availability of credit amongst farmers for potential investments. There is a comparatively high level of farm mechanization in the district, implying a positive outlook towards progressive technologies amongst the farmers. The district appears in the group of districts, which are (very) highly vulnerable towards climate change, as per an index constructed by CRIDA.

Deployment Approaches

Approaches Feasibility
Individually owned off-grid solar pumps Limited Suitability
Solarisation of feeders Limited Suitability
Solar based water as a service Not Suitable
Promote 1 HP and sub-HP pumps Not Suitable
Solarisation of individual grid-connected pumps Limited suitability

Individually owned off-grid solar pumps

Limited Suitability

The district has a comparatively high concentration of diesel pump users, high crop revenue per holding, and a relatively high disbursement of institutional credit. However, groundwater availability is below the safe limit. Water conservation and efficient irrigation practices (such as drip irrigation) should be promoted to improve the viability of solar pumps.

Parameter Value Percentile
Number of cultivators reporting use of diesel pumps 99,363 86
Water Availability Index 0.13 8
Crop revenue per holding (INR) 140,584 72
Medium and long term institutional credit disbursed in a year (in INR Crore) 678.6 96

Solarisation of feeders

Limited Suitability

The district has a relatively high penetration of electric pumps, and its DISCOM incurs a high cost for supplying power, but the district has a comparatively low extent of feeder segregation. Solarisation of the feeders will only be possible once the district separates agricultural feeders from the rest.

Parameter Value Percentile
Actual cost of power supply (INR/kWh) 6.26 70
Extent of feeder segregation 13% 30
Proportion of cultivators reporting use of electric pumps 63% 95

Solar based water as a service

Not Suitable

The district has a rather low concentration of small and marginal farmers and a relatively low proportion of unirrigated area. Moreover, groundwater availability is below the safe limit, making it extremely difficult to promote solar-based irrigation through the water-as-a-service model here.

Parameter Value Percentile
Water Availability Index 0.13 8
Proportion of small and marginal cultivators 82% 43
Unirrigated net sown area as a share of total net sown area 10% 13

Promote 1 HP and sub-HP pumps

Not Suitable

The district has a comparatively high disbursement of institutional credit to marginal farmers. But, a rather low concentration of marginal farmers, a relatively low proportion of horticulture crops under gross cropped area, and groundwater availability below the safe limit make it extremely difficult to promote 1 HP and sub-HP pumps here.

Parameter Value Percentile
Area under horticulture crops as a share of gross cropped area 2% 23
Water Availability Index 0.13 8
Proportion of marginal cultivators 58% 41
Medium and long term institutional credit disbursed in a year (in INR Crore) 678.6 96

Solarisation of individual grid-connected pumps

Limited suitability

The district has a relatively high penetration of electric pumps and power supply to its agriculture consumers is heavily subsidised. But the district has a comparatively low extent of feeder segregation and its groundwater availability is below the safe limits. Solarisation of individual grid-connected pumps will only be possible once the district separates agricultural feeders from the rest. Further the approach should be taken up with extreme caution as it may aggrevate the groundwater depletion.

Parameter Value Percentile
Water Availability Index 0.13 8
Actual cost of power supply (INR/kWh) 6.26 70
Extent of feeder segregation 13% 30

Leveraging Solar Pumps to Promote Policy Objectives

If you are deploying solar pumps in this district then you can further these policy objectives.

Doubling Farmers’ Income – Crop Diversification

In the district, horticulture crops occupy a relatively low proportion of gross cropped area, indicating an opportunity for growing more high value non-staple crops. Solar-powered irrigation could be an alternative source of reliable irrigation, making it easier to achieve crop diversification and enhance farmers’ incomes.

Parameter Value Percentile
Area under horticulture crops as a share of gross cropped area 2% 23

Per Drop More Crop

In the district, crops suitable for drip and sprinkler irrigation occupy a relatively high proportion of gross cropped area, making it easy to adopt such high precision irrigation methods. Solar pumps, along with other efficient and precise water application devices, could be deployed under Per Drop More Crop to promote efficient irrigation.

Parameter Value Percentile
Area under crops suitable for drip and sprinkler irrigation as a share of total cropped area 38% 72

Alwar, Rajasthan
Summary
Number of operational holdings
405,099
Average size of operational holding (Ha)
1.27
No. of cultivators using diesel pumps
99,363
No. of cultivators using electric pumps
256,812
Parameters (value, percentile)
Unirrigated net sown area ('000 ha)
49
47
Area under horticulture crops as a share of gross cropped area
2%
23
Water Availability Index
0.13
8
Monthly per capita expenditure of rural agricultural households (INR)
1,688
82
Crop revenue per holding (INR)
140,584
72
No. of rural and semi-urban bank branches per 10,000 farmers
7.45
50
Medium and long-term institutional credit disbursed in a year (in INR Crore)
678.6
96
No. of calls made at Kisan Call Centre (between 1.1.2011 - 31.12.2015)
10,732
98
Level of farm mechanisation (tractors, harvesters, threshers per ha)
0.75
84