JOIN USSolar power made the duo self-reliant
Farmers have always demanded quality power to run their pump sets to irrigate their land and blame the electricity supplying companies for erratic power supply.
Progressive farmer brothers Shivaraj and Ravi at Khandya, however, bid adieu to the erratic power supply about a year ago. They do not face shortage of electricity to lift water anymore, as they have installed solar panels.
Last year, when the brothers faced acute shortage of water, erratic power supply to irrigate arecanut and coffee – grown on 14 acres of land – the duo decided to install the solar panels.
‘Wait is over’
The installation has brought great relief to the brothers. “Earlier, we had to wait the whole day to lift water as electricity was supplied only for a fixed number of hours every day. We saw the solar panels that had been installed at our relative Duggappa Gowda’s house at Umbalebail, and decided that the idea works great for farmers,” they said.
With the help of 20 solar panels, the duo can lift water using a 5-hp pump set from the borewell continuously for eight hours. “Earlier, we used to spend Rs 25,000 a week on the diesel for the pump sets,” they added.
Shivaraj said, “One can have a solar power unit by availing of the subsidy of Rs 1.90 lakh from the central government and spending Rs 2.50 lakh. Water from borewells is lifted and pumped to a tank in the vicinity, to be used for irrigation.
This also helps in the rejuvenation of the tank.”
As their neighbours are facing acute water shortage, the brothers supply water to them as well. Several people come with tankers to collect water from them daily.