Currently in East India, only 30% of the land is irrigated and 83% of the farmers depend on chemical based agriculture. So it is important to bring a reliable and sustainable irrigation system. The high subsidies on solar pumps make irrigation cheap for small farmers and help them to get out of poverty. In Jharkhand and Orissa, a subsidy of 95% is being provided while in West Bengal, a subsidy of 65% will be given to farmers for acquiring a solar pump. In Jharkhand, there is special provision for women farmers, so SwitchON is conducting awareness campaigns with Self Help Groups and few progressive women farmers, who in turn are motivating others to take up solar pumps to solve their irrigation woes.

SwitchON Foundation is actively promoting solar pumps under the central government scheme, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) and has recently tied up with state agencies like Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (JREDA), Orissa Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA) and West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company (WBSEDCL). Under the tie up, SwitchON will be supporting the implementation of PM KUSUM in those states by building capacities and spreading awareness among farmers through communication and training materials.

A list of communication materials are prepared to sensitize farmers on solar pumps.

1. Communication Resources to be Developed: Awareness videos, leaflets, wall paintings, brochures, jingle and banners that are disseminated in local language. 
2. Delivery of Communication Materials: The materials will be disseminated through farmer workshops, miking, exposure visits, solar demonstration van, social media, print media and demonstration stalls at weekly huts. Additionally, a helpline number has been activated to address the technical and non-technical issues related to solar pumps among small and marginal farmers.

The communication materials are widely disseminated through SwitchON and the network members of EEWA (Empowering Energy Water and Agriculture Nexus). The EEWA members have a strong grassroot presence in East India. These materials can indirectly sensitize 10,000 farmers in a short span of time. With such efforts, SwitchON aims to mobilize 1000 solar pump applications under FSSM Scheme of West Bengal and 2000 applications from women farmers of Jharkhand in the next few months.

SwitchON has additionally created an inventory of training material for farmers, technicians, youth, bankers and government officials.

1. Development of Training Materials: Technical Training, Entrepreneurship Training, Farmer Training and Banker Training in 3 languages.
2. Resources being developed: Animation Video, Real life Video, Handbooks, Evaluation and Presentation.
3. Delivery of Training Materials: Open Learning Academy, Workshops with Industrial Training Institutes, Engineering and Diploma Graduates, Master Training with NGO-CSOs and Partnerships with Government Skill Development Programs.

To build up capacity of a batch of trainers, solar technical training was provided. To provide training training materials for preparing modules, presentations, hand-outs and training manuals were prepared. Introductory Solar Technical Training and Basic Solar Technical Training was provided for capacitating entrepreneurs to promote solar lighting systems. To promote and install Sarala Cook Stove the required training was provided.

Types of Training
1. Solar Pump Farmer Workshop
2. Solar Pump Youth Workshop
3. Solar Pump Introductory Training
4. Solar Pump Advance Training
5. Solar Pump Entrepreneurship Training
6. Solar Pump Financial Workshop

West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha & Chattisgarh