It has a relatively small proportion of its net sown area unirrigated, indicating poor irrigation demand. Overall, water availability for irrigation in the district (based on ground water development and long-term trends of water level decline) is within the safe limit, enhancing long-term sustainability of solar pumps. The average monthly per capita expenditure of rural agricultural households is relatively low for the district, suggesting poor purchasing capacity of the farmers here. It has a relatively low penetration of banks in rural and semi-rural areas, impeding access to institutional credit for farmers. 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. 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.
Approaches | Feasibility |
---|---|
Individually owned off-grid solar pumps | Suitable |
Solarisation of feeders | Limited Suitability |
Solar based water as a service | Limited Suitability |
Promote 1 HP and sub-HP pumps | Limited Suitability |
Suitable
Availability of groundwater within the safe limit, a comparatively high concentration of diesel pump users, a relatively high crop revenue per holding, and institutional credit disbursed in relatively large amounts in the district make it a suitable candidate for the promotion of solar-based irrigation through the private ownership of solar pumps. Private ownership provides easy and reliable access to irrigation for farmers.
Parameter | Value | Percentile |
---|---|---|
Number of cultivators reporting use of diesel pumps | 196,336 | 95 |
Water Availability Index | 1 | 100 |
Crop revenue per holding (INR) | 90,330 | 54 |
Medium and long term institutional credit disbursed in a year (in INR Crore) | 393.4 | 91 |
Limited Suitability
The district has a relatively high penetration of electric pumps, and its DISCOM has a rather high bulk power purchase rate, 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 |
---|---|---|
Power purchase rate for DISCOM (INR/kWh) | 4.33 | 76 |
Extent of feeder segregation | 0% | 0 |
Proportion of cultivators reporting use of electric pumps | 3% | 34 |
Limited Suitability
Groundwater availability in the district is within safe limit and the concentration of small and marginal farmers is comparatively high, but the proportion of unirrigated area is relatively low. A solar-based water service will have to compete with existing sources of irrigation.
Parameter | Value | Percentile |
---|---|---|
Water Availability Index | 1 | 100 |
Proportion of small and marginal cultivators | 91% | 64 |
Unirrigated net sown area as a share of total net sown area | 1% | 5 |
Limited Suitability
The district has groundwater availability within safe limit, a rather high concentration of marginal farmers, and a comparatively high disbursement of institutional credit to marginal farmers, but the proportion gross cropped area under horticulture crops is relatively low. Farmers should be incentivised to grow horticulture crops based on the agro-economic suitability of the region and market linkages to improve their revenue, making small sized pumps viable, by improving their capacity utilisation.
Parameter | Value | Percentile |
---|---|---|
Area under horticulture crops as a share of gross cropped area | 3% | 33 |
Water Availability Index | 1 | 100 |
Proportion of marginal cultivators | 75% | 67 |
Medium and long term institutional credit disbursed in a year (in INR Crore) | 393.4 | 91 |
If you are deploying solar pumps in this district then you can further these policy objectives.
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 | 3% | 33 |
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 | 4% | 47 |
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 | 91% | 64 |
Score on Climate Change Vulnerability Index | 0.47 | 62 |