Horticulture crops occupy a relatively low proportion of gross cropped area in the district, diminishing the economic viability of solar pumps here. It has a relatively low penetration of banks in rural and semi-rural areas, impeding access to institutional credit for 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 | Not Suitable |
Individually owned off-grid solar pumps
Not Suitable
The district has a relatively high disbursement of institutional credit, but ground water availability is below the safe limit, the concentration of diesel pump users is comparatively low, and crop revenue per holding is also low, making it extremely difficult to promote the private ownership of solar pumps here.
| Parameter | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Number of cultivators reporting use of diesel pumps | 10,391 | 42 |
| Water Availability Index | 0.67 | 67 |
| Crop revenue per holding (INR) | 29,307 | 28 |
| Medium and long term institutional credit disbursed in a year (in INR Crore) | 117.3 | 70 |
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) | 4.17 | 66 |
| Extent of feeder segregation | 62% | 57 |
| Proportion of cultivators reporting use of electric pumps | 2% | 29 |
Solar based water as a service
Not Suitable
The district has a relatively high proportion of unirrigated area. But, the concentration of small and marginal farmers is rather low and groundwater availability is below the safe limit, making it very difficult to promote solar-based irrigation through the water-as-a-service model here.
| Parameter | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Water Availability Index | 0.67 | 67 |
| Proportion of small and marginal cultivators | 67% | 19 |
| Unirrigated net sown area as a share of total net sown area | 75% | 64 |
Promote 1 HP and sub-HP pumps
Not Suitable
Groundwater availability in the district is below the safe limit, the concentration of marginal farmers is rather low, disbursement of institutional credit to marginal farmers is also comparatively low, and the proportion of horticulture crops under gross cropped area is relatively low, making 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 | 1% | 13 |
| Water Availability Index | 0.67 | 67 |
| Proportion of marginal cultivators | 32% | 15 |
| Medium and long term institutional credit disbursed in a year (in INR Crore) | 117.3 | 70 |
Leveraging Solar Pumps to Promote Policy Objectives
If you are deploying solar pumps in this district then you can further these policy objectives.
Har Khet ko Pani
A relatively high proportion of the net sown area in the district is unirrigated, indicating high irrigation demand. Solar pumps can help improve access to underground irrigation as part of Har Khet ko Pani.
| Parameter | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Unirrigated net sown area as a share of total net sown area | 75% | 64 |
Doubling Farmers’ Income – Crop Intensity
A relatively high proportion of the district’s net sown area is unirrigated. Lack of access to irrigation is one of the major barriers to growing crops beyond two conventional seasons, rabi and kharif. Ensuring irrigation access through solar power will help improve cropping intensity and move towards the aim of doubling farmers’ income by 2022.
| Parameter | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Unirrigated net sown area as a share of total net sown area | 75% | 64 |
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 | 1% | 13 |
Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation – Farm Power Availability
There is a comparatively low level of farm mechanisation in the district and a relatively low proportion of electric pump users, indicating an opportunity to increase the exisiting level of mechanisation through solar based irrigation. Solar powered irrigation could be deployed under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation to improve farm power availability.
| Parameter | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Level of farm mechanisation (tractors, harvesters, threshers per ha) | 0.12 | 34 |
| Proportion of cultivators reporting use of electric pumps | 2% | 29 |
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 | 42% | 77 |
