Solar-Powered Pumps Reduce Irrigation Costs in Bangladesh

১১ ই নভেম্বর, ২০১৫ বিকাল ৩:৪৭

Bangladeshi farmers have relied on expensive diesel- or electricity-powered irrigation pumps. There are 1.34 million diesel pumps and 270,000 electric-run pumps used for irrigation. Every year, diesel pumps consume 1 million tons of diesel worth $900 million. This is a costly amount, which the government subsidizes at the expense of other agricultural innovations. Transportation of diesel to crop fields is difficult and the supply can be inconsistent. Farmers are often dependent on middle-men, who charge higher diesel prices during peak irrigation and cropping season and drive farmers further into financial difficulty. Diesel pumps also frequently break down, have high maintenance costs, and pollute the environment. Farmers in the pilot area have been switching from diesel-run to solar irrigation pumps. By reducing irrigation costs, solar pumps are becoming popular, especially in areas without electricity grid coverage. Compared to their diesel counterparts, these pumps are also more reliable and easier to maintain. For farmers like Islam, the subsidized solar photovoltaic (PV) panels provided by IDCOL are a dream come true: “During the last season, spent a large amount on diesel to irrigate my crops. Now with the solar irrigation pump, the cost has reduced by almost half”.

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