West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh - Solar Pumps Tool West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh | Solar Pumps Tool Humane ClubMade with Humane Club

West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh

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 high for the district, suggesting higher purchasing capacity of the farmers here. For average crop revenue per holding, the district appears among the top 25 percentile of districts, implying higher investment capacity of the farmers 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 has a relatively high proportion of small and marginal farmers. The district appears in the group of districts, which show (very) low vulnerability towards climate change, as per an index constructed by CRIDA.

Deployment Approaches

Approaches Feasibility
Individually owned off-grid solar pumps Suitable
Solarisation of feeders Suitable
Solar based water as a service Limited Suitability
Promote 1 HP and sub-HP pumps Suitable
Solarisation of individual grid-connected pumps Suitable

Individually owned off-grid solar pumps

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 47,121 74
Water Availability Index 0.9 82
Crop revenue per holding (INR) 159,974 78
Medium and long term institutional credit disbursed in a year (in INR Crore) 54 59

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) 7.76 99
Extent of feeder segregation 100% 69
Proportion of cultivators reporting use of electric pumps 33% 80

Solar based water as a service

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 0.9 82
Proportion of small and marginal cultivators 91% 64
Unirrigated net sown area as a share of total net sown area 10% 13

Promote 1 HP and sub-HP pumps

Suitable

1 HP and sub-HP pumps could help marginal farmers meet their needs in this district. A relatively high proportion of horticulture crops under gross cropped area, a rather high concentration of marginal farmers, a comparatively high disbursement of institutional credit to marginal farmers, and the availability of groundwater within the safe limit would drive the success of such small-sized pumps in the district. Such small pumps could also be put to use for lift irrigation, provided there is access to surface water.

Parameter Value Percentile
Area under horticulture crops as a share of gross cropped area 11% 64
Water Availability Index 0.9 82
Proportion of marginal cultivators 76% 69
Medium and long term institutional credit disbursed in a year (in INR Crore) 54 59

Solarisation of individual grid-connected pumps

Suitable

Given the relatively high rate of power subsidy for agriculture consumers, a comparatively high extent of feeder segregation, ground water available within the safe limits and a high penetration of electric pumps, solarisation of individual grid-connected pumps 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
Water Availability Index 0.9 82
Actual cost of power supply (INR/kWh) 7.76 99
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.

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 27% 58

West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh
Summary
Number of operational holdings
565,055
Average size of operational holding (Ha)
0.85
No. of cultivators using diesel pumps
47,121
No. of cultivators using electric pumps
188,776
Parameters (value, percentile)
Unirrigated net sown area ('000 ha)
46
44
Area under horticulture crops as a share of gross cropped area
11%
64
Water Availability Index
0.9
82
Monthly per capita expenditure of rural agricultural households (INR)
1,640
80
Crop revenue per holding (INR)
159,974
78
No. of rural and semi-urban bank branches per 10,000 farmers
8.21
57
Medium and long-term institutional credit disbursed in a year (in INR Crore)
54
59
No. of calls made at Kisan Call Centre (between 1.1.2011 - 31.12.2015)
1,956
62
Level of farm mechanisation (tractors, harvesters, threshers per ha)
0.57
72