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. 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 | 64,254 | 81 |
Water Availability Index | 0.5 | 35 |
Crop revenue per holding (INR) | 85,449 | 52 |
Medium and long term institutional credit disbursed in a year (in INR Crore) | 0 | 0 |
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) | 6.14 | 65 |
Extent of feeder segregation | 100% | 69 |
Proportion of cultivators reporting use of electric pumps | 6% | 46 |
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 | 0.5 | 35 |
Proportion of small and marginal cultivators | 94% | 76 |
Unirrigated net sown area as a share of total net sown area | 25% | 25 |
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 | 8% | 58 |
Water Availability Index | 0.5 | 35 |
Proportion of marginal cultivators | 83% | 82 |
Medium and long term institutional credit disbursed in a year (in INR Crore) | 0 | 0 |
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 | 0.5 | 35 |
Actual cost of power supply (INR/kWh) | 6.14 | 65 |
Extent of feeder segregation | 100% | 69 |
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 | 94% | 76 |
Medium and long-term institutional credit disbursed in a year to small and marginal cultivators (in INR Crore) | 0 | 0 |
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 | 41 |
Climate Resilient Farming for Small Farms
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 | 94% | 76 |
Score on Climate Change Vulnerability Index | 0.58 | 87 |