The Chhattisgarh government’s “Saur Sujala Yojana” is proving beneficial to farmers in increasing crop cultivation and income in Baloda Bazaar district.
Demand for the solar pumps has increased in the district with the increasing awareness among farmers regarding their benefits.
A total of 4,305 solar pumps have been put up by the Chhattisgarh State Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA). Apart from fields, these pumps are also being installed in Gauthans and pastures.
The "Saur Sujala Yojana" aims to assist the farmers especially in remote areas where it is not possible to supply electricity. It also targets groundwater conservation and helps strengthen rural economy.
District Collector Rajat Bansal said: "The scheme has made life easy for the farmers. With solar pumps, they don't have to pay hefty electricity bills, reducing their input cost. It will also help reduce land exploitation and air pollution caused by diesel irrigation pumps."
The farmers are earning good profits by producing vegetables and seasonal crops besides paddy and wheat by using solar pumps for irrigation.
Paddy farmers in remote areas who were previously dependent on rains for irrigation are now growing green vegetables and cash crops along with paddy in their fields.
