Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh - Solar Pumps Tool Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh | Solar Pumps Tool Humane ClubMade in Humane Club

Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh

In the district, horticulture crops occupy a relatively high proportion of gross cropped area, raising the economic viability of solar pumps here. 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 has a relatively high proportion of small and marginal 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 Suitable
Solar based water as a service Not Suitable
Promote 1 HP and sub-HP pumps Limited Suitability
Solarisation of individual grid-connected pumps Limited suitability

Individually owned off-grid solar pumps

Limited Suitability

The district has a relatively high disbursement of institutional credit and a comparatively high concentration of diesel pump users. However, ground water availability is below the safe limit, and crop revenue per holding is low, making it very difficult to promote the private ownership of solar pumps here.

Parameter Value Percentile
Number of cultivators reporting use of diesel pumps 22,226 56
Water Availability Index 0.72 57
Crop revenue per holding (INR) 75,911 47
Medium and long term institutional credit disbursed in a year (in INR Crore) 257.3 85

Solarisation of feeders

Suitable

Given the relatively high cost of power supply for the respective DISCOM, a comparatively high extent of feeder segregation, and a high penetration of electric pumps, solarisation of the feeders would be a recommended way to promote solar-powered irrigation in the district. It would ensure the rapid and cost effective solarisation of irrigation power at a large scale.

Parameter Value Percentile
Actual cost of power supply (INR/kWh) 7.54 98
Extent of feeder segregation 100% 69
Proportion of cultivators reporting use of electric pumps 44% 88

Solar based water as a service

Not Suitable

The concentration of small and marginal farmers is rather high in the district, but groundwater availability is below the safe limit. In addition, a relatively low proportion of unirrigated area makes it very difficult to promote solar-based irrigation through the water-as-a-service model here, unless it undercuts the price of water from existing sources, and improves water utilisation through promotion of micro-irrigation.

Parameter Value Percentile
Water Availability Index 0.72 57
Proportion of small and marginal cultivators 90% 61
Unirrigated net sown area as a share of total net sown area 48% 39

Promote 1 HP and sub-HP pumps

Limited Suitability

The district has a relatively high proportion of gross cropped area under horticulture crops, a high concentration of marginal farmers and a comparatively high disbursement of institutional credit to marginal farmers, but 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 small capacity pumps.

Parameter Value Percentile
Area under horticulture crops as a share of gross cropped area 28% 86
Water Availability Index 0.72 57
Proportion of marginal cultivators 68% 56
Medium and long term institutional credit disbursed in a year (in INR Crore) 257.3 85

Solarisation of individual grid-connected pumps

Limited suitability

The district has a relatively high rate of power subsidy for agriculture consumers, a comparatively high extent of feeder segregation, and a high penetration of electric pumps. However, the groundwater availability is below the safe limits. State should be cautious in promoting solarisation of individual grid-connected pumps as it may aggrevate the groundwater depletion

Parameter Value Percentile
Water Availability Index 0.72 57
Actual cost of power supply (INR/kWh) 7.54 98
Extent of feeder segregation 100% 69

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 – Capital Investment

Given the high concentration of small and marginal farmers, and their relatively better access to institutional credit, the district is suitable for doubling farmers’ income through capital investment. Solar pumps could be one of the farm technologies to invest in for farmers, especially 1 HP or sub-HP pumps for marginal farmers.

Parameter Value Percentile
Proportion of small and marginal cultivators 90% 61
Medium and long-term institutional credit disbursed in a year to small and marginal cultivators (in INR Crore) 257.3 85

Climate Resilient Farming for Small Farms

Given the high concentration of small and marginal farmers—the most vulnerable group to climate change—and a high score on climate change vulnerability index provided by CRIDA*, the district is suitable for promoting climate resilient farming for small-sized farms. Solar pumps would assist in the same through low-carbon agriculture.

Parameter Value Percentile
Proportion of small and marginal cultivators 90% 61
Score on Climate Change Vulnerability Index 0.71 97

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 64% 92

Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh
Summary
Number of operational holdings
667,137
Average size of operational holding (Ha)
0.93
No. of cultivators using diesel pumps
22,226
No. of cultivators using electric pumps
293,232
Parameters (value, percentile)
Unirrigated net sown area ('000 ha)
214
82
Area under horticulture crops as a share of gross cropped area
28%
86
Water Availability Index
0.72
57
Monthly per capita expenditure of rural agricultural households (INR)
1,651
81
Crop revenue per holding (INR)
75,911
47
No. of rural and semi-urban bank branches per 10,000 farmers
6.22
41
Medium and long-term institutional credit disbursed in a year (in INR Crore)
257.3
85
No. of calls made at Kisan Call Centre (between 1.1.2011 - 31.12.2015)
2,941
76
Level of farm mechanisation (tractors, harvesters, threshers per ha)
0.9
88