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.
Training and communication materials have been developed for building the capacity and sensitizing various stakeholders including farmers, bankers, rural youth and government officials. The materials will be disseminated in local language based on local settings.
In a quest to install 17.5 lakh standalone pumps under Component B and 10 lakh grid connected pumps under Component C of PM-KUSUM, the central and state governments have been increasingly pitching for solar pumps to simultaneously provide farmers with access to assured irrigation through subsidy schemes. But there is a lack of knowledge and awareness on the ground. As an active practitioner for over 10 years, SwitchON has a strong background in mobilizing farmers through various offline platforms.
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.
A list of communication materials are prepared to sensitize farmers on solar pumps.
- Communication Resources to be Developed: Awareness videos, leaflets, wall paintings, brochures, jingle and banners that are disseminated in local language.
- 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.
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The communication materials are widely disseminated through SwitchON and the network members of SEWA (Strengthening Energy Water and Agriculture Nexus). The SEWA 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 mobilise 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.
- Development of Training Materials: Technical Training, Entrepreneurship Training, Farmer Training and Banker Training in 3 languages.
- Resources being developed: Animation Video, Real life Video, Handbooks, Evaluation and Presentation.
- 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.
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India has become an outspoken proponent of renewable energy and has set ambitious targets to reduce its emission intensity and decarbonise its electricity sector through large-scale deployment of renewable energy. India’s embrace of clean energy has been motivated more by development concerns than by sustainability. So it is important to understand the ground realities, spread awareness and prepare the farmers for a greener future.
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