88
to the investment made. Subsidy under the scheme is therefore necessary without which installation
of SPP cannot be to be done by the farmers.
3. Solar Pump Irrigators’ Cooperative Enterprise (SPICE) pilot model running in Dhundi, a village in
Gujarat’s Anand district has shown a way out. Members of this cooperative — the first of its kind
in the world — are using solar power not only to run irrigation pumps, but also pool their surplus
energy to sell to the Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (MGVCL) at Rs 4.63/unit under a 25-year
power purchase agreement (PPA).
4. The working environment of saltpan workers is not satisfactory. The basic amenities such as drinking
water, toilet and bathroom, leisure room, electricity facilities, first aid room etc. are totally absent,
several villages do not have transportation facilities, workers health getting affected in salt farming,
schooling of the children is problem specially female child are not getting education and these salt
farmers do not have access to credit from any formal sources they have to depend upon the traders
for loan.
5. SPP for salt pan areas is very beneficial and results into savings with which loan can be repaid very
easily.
6. The saltpan worker they do not have any collateral security so that they can not avail finance directly
from the banks for the SPV pumps installation.
7. Solar Power Pump ensures the following benefits to the farmers:
i. Low operating cost: The operating cost of the pump is negligible, since no fuel is required for the
pump like electricity or diesel.
ii. Low maintenance: A well-designed solar system requires little maintenance beyond cleaning of the
panels once a week.
iii. Harmonious with nature: It gives maximum water output when it is most needed, that is, in hot and
dry months. Solar water pump uses peak solar array output which frequently coincides with high
water demand during long, dry summer days.
iv. Flexibility: The panels need not be right beside the well. They can be anywhere up to 20 m away
from the well, or anywhere you need the water.
v. Income from saved power: Additional Benefits can be taken by connecting with Grid to obtain
income by selling power to DISCOM during non-agriculture season.
vi. Convenience to Irrigation: Farmers get reliable electricity during Day Time.
vii. Ability to adopt efficient irrigation: Farmers will be motivated to adopt efficient irrigation practices
like micro irrigation as they will understand the need to save water and also electricity as under
buyback arrangement they will try to sell maximum electricity generated to DISCOM.
Major Recommendations:
1. Existing GoI subsidy for the solar power pump @40% is not good enough to make farmers give up
the Electricity connection and install Solar Powered Irrigation Pumps (SPIP). There is a case for
State Govt. to give additional subsidy to make the total subsidy to 85% to incentivise the farmers to
go in for the scheme.
