Hooghly, 4th December 2023: SwitchON Foundation organized a stakeholder meet on sustainable agriculture on the interlinkages between Sustainable agriculture and Clean Energy to assess the impact on solar technology and promote sustainable farming practices. This workshop convened key stakeholders, including senior government officials, bankers and farmers, to delve into the impact of clean energy on sustainable farming practices. The discussions specifically focused on the potential of employing solar water pumps and micro irrigation practices, particularly for marginalized farmers. The multi stakeholder meet not only focussed on the benefit of solar pumps for the farmers but also talked about bringing a behavioral change amongst the farmers who are using the solar pumps.
Around 200 farmers attended the stakeholder meet and learned about the different types of solar irrigation systems. The event featured insightful presentations and discussions on the impact assessment of clean energy adoption in Hooghly. It delved into the benefits, challenges, and opportunities, complemented by exposure visits to provide a firsthand understanding. Additionally, the program included a comprehensive showcase and dialogue on sustainable farming practices, covering aspects such as crop selection and water management through micro-irrigation, with a particular focus on the integration of solar pumps. Attendees also had the opportunity to hear directly from local farmers who shared their success stories and lessons learned from experiencing the benefits of solar pumps at installation sites. To further empower the farming community, informative presentations were delivered on the latest agricultural technologies, emphasizing maintenance and financial considerations to enhance the overall understanding and adoption of innovative practices.
The event was attended by Shri Bappaditya Senapati, DDA PD-ATMA, Shri Chinmay Bhattacharya, ADA, Marketing, Shri Sujit Bhada, Director, NSTIM, Shri S.F.Rahman, RMC Secy, Hooghly, Shri Sujan Sarkar, CEO, Cooperative bank, Souvik Chatterjee- ADA, Hooghly Chanditala, Shri Abhijit Banik- ADA (Information), DD (Admin) Hooghly and other dignitaries from Govt. departments and banks were present.
Mr. Vinay Jaju, Managing Director, SwitchON Foundation stated, “Solar pumps provide clean energy, ensure reliable livelihoods, reduce carbon footprints, and pave the way for a greener, more resilient agricultural landscape. The ripple effect of solar technology extends beyond individual farms, positively influencing water conservation and ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and ecologically balanced farming landscape.”
Adoption of new clean irrigation technologies, particularly necessary environment and farmer friendly technology like solar pumps not only reduces operational costs for farmers but also promotes energy independence, mitigating the reliance on traditional, often expensive energy sources. West Bengal with its vast area of agricultural land, has merely 35 percent of the cropped area classified as irrigated land, with huge potential to increase its share of agricultural production, provided the state farmers have access to reliable sources of irrigation technology like the solar pumps.
The multistakeholder meet accentuated the pivotal role of sustainable farming practices, particularly highlighting the intricacies of micro-irrigation and pioneering water conservation models. This emphasis is designed to initiate discussions on energy and water issues at both the individual and community levels. The collaboration of diverse stakeholders is crucial for addressing these pressing concerns and fostering a more sustainable agricultural landscape.
Strongly advocating for a shift towards sustainable agriculture, Shri Avijit Ghosh, Director, Agriculture Training Centre, Hooghly said, “Farmers should embrace organic manures, recognising that the use of chemical fertilizers poses a significant threat to soil health and plant vitality.”
Media Drossier for 4th Dec 2023
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