It has a relatively small proportion of its net sown area unirrigated, indicating poor irrigation demand. 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. 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. 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.
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 | Limited Suitability |
Limited Suitability
The district has a relatively high disbursement of institutional credit and high crop revenue per holding. However, ground water availability is below the safe limit, and concentration of diesel pump users is comparatively 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 | 10,882 | 43 |
Water Availability Index | 0.11 | 7 |
Crop revenue per holding (INR) | 139,748 | 72 |
Medium and long term institutional credit disbursed in a year (in INR Crore) | 210.9 | 82 |
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) | 3.68 | 26 |
Extent of feeder segregation | 0% | 0 |
Proportion of cultivators reporting use of electric pumps | 61% | 94 |
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 | 0.11 | 7 |
Proportion of small and marginal cultivators | 95% | 80 |
Unirrigated net sown area as a share of total net sown area | 20% | 22 |
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% | 42 |
Water Availability Index | 0.11 | 7 |
Proportion of marginal cultivators | 80% | 76 |
Medium and long term institutional credit disbursed in a year (in INR Crore) | 210.9 | 82 |
If you are deploying solar pumps in this district then you can further these policy objectives.
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 | 95% | 80 |
Medium and long-term institutional credit disbursed in a year to small and marginal cultivators (in INR Crore) | 210.9 | 82 |
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% | 42 |
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 | 95% | 80 |
Score on Climate Change Vulnerability Index | 0.49 | 68 |
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 | 40% | 75 |