Agra, Uttar Pradesh - Solar Pumps Tool Agra, Uttar Pradesh | Solar Pumps Tool Humane ClubMade in Humane Club

Agra, Uttar Pradesh

It has a relatively small proportion of its net sown area unirrigated, indicating poor irrigation demand. In the district, horticulture crops occupy a relatively high proportion of gross cropped area, raising the economic viability of solar pumps 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. 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 comparatively high concentration of diesel pump users, high crop revenue per holding, and a relatively high disbursement of institutional credit. However, 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 solar pumps.

Parameter Value Percentile
Number of cultivators reporting use of diesel pumps 41,900 72
Water Availability Index 0.27 19
Crop revenue per holding (INR) 115,029 64
Medium and long term institutional credit disbursed in a year (in INR Crore) 477.8 92

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) 6.54 80
Extent of feeder segregation 2% 21
Proportion of cultivators reporting use of electric pumps 12% 58

Solar based water as a service

Not Suitable

The district has a rather low concentration of small and marginal farmers and a relatively low proportion of unirrigated area. Moreover, groundwater availability is below the safe limit, making it extremely difficult to promote solar-based irrigation through the water-as-a-service model here.

Parameter Value Percentile
Water Availability Index 0.27 19
Proportion of small and marginal cultivators 85% 48
Unirrigated net sown area as a share of total net sown area 9% 12

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 20% 78
Water Availability Index 0.27 19
Proportion of marginal cultivators 65% 51
Medium and long term institutional credit disbursed in a year (in INR Crore) 477.8 92

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 0.27 19
Actual cost of power supply (INR/kWh) 6.54 80
Extent of feeder segregation 2% 21

Leveraging Solar Pumps to Promote Policy Objectives

If you are deploying solar pumps in this district then you can further these policy objectives.

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 30% 62

Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Summary
Number of operational holdings
259,043
Average size of operational holding (Ha)
1.08
No. of cultivators using diesel pumps
41,900
No. of cultivators using electric pumps
31,010
Parameters (value, percentile)
Unirrigated net sown area ('000 ha)
25
29
Area under horticulture crops as a share of gross cropped area
20%
78
Water Availability Index
0.27
19
Monthly per capita expenditure of rural agricultural households (INR)
1,381
62
Crop revenue per holding (INR)
115,029
64
No. of rural and semi-urban bank branches per 10,000 farmers
7.99
55
Medium and long-term institutional credit disbursed in a year (in INR Crore)
477.8
92
No. of calls made at Kisan Call Centre (between 1.1.2011 - 31.12.2015)
14,901
100
Level of farm mechanisation (tractors, harvesters, threshers per ha)
0.57
72