1222 farmers of forest area Baranwapara got irrigation facility from solar pump
Raipur 27 February 2025: Chhattisgarh government’s Solar Sujala Yojana is proving to be a boon for the farmers of Baranwapara area of Balodabazar district, who were deprived of conventional electricity even decades after independence. So far, solar irrigation pumps have been installed in the fields of 1222 farmers in Baranwapara area by the CREDA department under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Saath, due to which now farmers are doing profitable farming by taking advantage of irrigation facility without any worry. Under the Solar Sujala Yojana, 03 solar pumps of 2 horse power, 615 of three horse power and 604 solar pumps of 5 horse power have been installed in Bar Navapara area. This scheme has proved to be a boon for those farmers whose fields were not electrified or who did not have other means of irrigation. Farmer Nityanand of village Debi says that earlier due to lack of irrigation facilities, his annual income was only 25 to 30 thousand rupees. But after installing the solar pump, they are now earning three to four times more income by growing vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes and barbatti along with paddy. Similarly, the income of many other farmers including Banshram Chauhan, Basant Kumar Kaivartya, Amru Ram, Dhaniram Binjhwar and Gauri Bai Diwan has also increased significantly.
Earlier farmers used to irrigate fields from rivers and canals through diesel pumps, due to which a large part of their income was spent on fuel. But now their problem has ended as solar pumps are available for only Rs 24,800 under the Solar Sujala Yojana. The Chhattisgarh government is providing solar pumps to farmers at a price much lower than the market price. For a 3 horse power pump, farmers of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe category have to contribute only Rs 10,000, farmers of Other Backward Classes have to contribute Rs 15,000, and farmers of General Category have to contribute Rs 21,000, while for a 5 horse power pump, farmers of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe category have to contribute Rs 15,000, farmers of Other Backward Classes have to contribute Rs 20,000, and farmers of General Category have to contribute Rs 25,000. So far, 5198 solar pumps have been installed in Balodabazar district. To avail the benefits of Saur Sujala Yojana, application can be made through Agriculture Department, Rural Agriculture Extension Officer and CREDA Department. Rivers, drains, wells and tube wells are marked on priority for irrigation. This scheme of Chhattisgarh Government is a better and permanent arrangement of irrigation at low cost for the farmers.