Made with Humane Club
It has a relatively small proportion of its net sown area unirrigated, indicating poor irrigation demand. 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.
Deployment Approaches
| Approaches | Feasibility |
|---|---|
| Individually owned off-grid solar pumps | Not Suitable |
| Solarisation of feeders | Suitable |
| Solar based water as a service | Not Suitable |
| Promote 1 HP and sub-HP pumps | Limited Suitability |
Individually owned off-grid solar pumps
Not Suitable
The district has ground water available below the safe limit, a comparatively low concentration of diesel pump users, low crop revenue per holding, and a relatively low disbursement of institutional credit, making it extremely difficult to promote the private ownership of solar pumps here.
| Parameter | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Number of cultivators reporting use of diesel pumps | 4,684 | 31 |
| Water Availability Index | 0.42 | 31 |
| Crop revenue per holding (INR) | 29,649 | 19 |
| Medium and long term institutional credit disbursed in a year (in INR Crore) | 15 | 42 |
Solarisation of feeders
Suitable
Given the relatively high bullk power purchase rate 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Power purchase rate for DISCOM (INR/kWh) | 4.37 | 79 |
| Extent of feeder segregation | 100% | 69 |
| Proportion of cultivators reporting use of electric pumps | 5% | 43 |
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 | 0.42 | 31 |
| Proportion of small and marginal cultivators | 98% | 93 |
| Unirrigated net sown area as a share of total net sown area | 22% | 23 |
Promote 1 HP and sub-HP pumps
Limited Suitability
The concentration of marginal farmers in the district is rather high and the disbursement of institutional credit to marginal farmers is also comparatively high. But, groundwater availability is below the safe limit and proportion of gross cropped area under horticulture is relatively low, making viability of small pumps difficult. Such pumps can be promoted in suitable areas of the district along with promotion of micro-irrigation as well as horticultural crops.
| Parameter | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Area under horticulture crops as a share of gross cropped area | 4% | 40 |
| Water Availability Index | 0.42 | 31 |
| Proportion of marginal cultivators | 91% | 93 |
| Medium and long term institutional credit disbursed in a year (in INR Crore) | 15 | 42 |
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 | 98% | 93 |
| Medium and long-term institutional credit disbursed in a year to small and marginal cultivators (in INR Crore) | 15 | 42 |
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 | 4% | 40 |
National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP)
The relatively low share of oilseeds and oil palm crops under gross sown area in the district makes it a suitable candidate for promoting NMOOP. Solar pumps could meet irrigation needs for these crops and help farmers diversify their yields beyond cereals.
| Parameter | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Area under oilseeds as a share of total cropped area | 0% | 6 |
