Farming is a labor-intensive occupation that needs months, or even years, of consistent effort on the part of the farmer. In addition, crop yields are notoriously difficult to forecast, and to make matters even more difficult, farms have to contend with unreliable monsoons and inadequate electrical infrastructure.
Because of India’s tropical environment, however, many farmers in the country have something going for them, and that something is solar panels for farms, which means that solar panels for farms can be an excellent way to meet a farmer’s requirements for energy and water. The following are some of the ways in which a farmer’s reliance on the energy grid and the monsoons can be reduced by employing solar power for agricultural purposes.
Providing Energy for Irrigation
At the moment, Indian farmers must rely on 12 million electricity connections and 9 million diesel-powered pump sets in order to irrigate their fields with groundwater.
It is possible for farmers to get rid of their dependence on intermittent power supply as well as rainfall that is both seasonal and inconsistent if they instal solar energy systems on their farms. In addition, making the conversion from diesel to solar power is beneficial for the planet in terms of environmental preservation.
Conserves the Water
As a result of the requirement to operate with a limited power source, which is frequently the case in more rural or distant places, farmers have a tendency to keep their pumps running continuously. This approach not only results in the waste of electricity but also has a detrimental effect on the levels of groundwater.
Because farmers will have access to a consistent power supply anytime they need it thanks to the utilisation of highly efficient solar panels in agricultural settings, they won’t have to have their pumps running continuously because they won’t have to worry about running out of electricity.
As a consequence of this, they will experience significant cost reductions in their electric bills and will also prevent the depletion of existing groundwater reserves.
Cost Savings
The price of gasoline for the many machines used in farming might make the activity prohibitively expensive at times. Solar energy, fortunately, can be an excellent solution to that problem.
The price of solar modules has reduced by 70 percent in the past four years, which has resulted in a significant decrease in the cost of building solar power plants on a per-acre basis. As a direct result of this, instruments such as solar pumps are now within the reach of the average farmer’s budget.Additionally, you may be interested in reading: What Are Soft Costs In Solar Systems And Ways To Minimize Them.
However, it is important to keep in mind that the only farmers who are now in a position to benefit from installing agricultural solar systems are those who are ready to wait several years before seeing any return on their investment.
For example, the upfront cost of a solar pump with 2 horsepower, which is sufficient for irrigating approximately 5 acres, is approximately 10 times that of a conventional pump. However, given that it can run for nearly 25 years with almost no overhead or management cost, it is an investment that is definitely worth making.
Non-harmful to the environment and does not contribute to pollution
Each year, India’s agricultural sector consumes more than 4 billion litres of diesel and over 85 million tonnes of coal in order to meet its needs, particularly those pertaining to irrigation. Even if only half of India’s diesel pumps were switched out for solar farming equipment, it is projected that this would result in a reduction of approximately 7.5% in the country’s overall use of diesel.
Better Marketing Opportunity
Consumers all across the world are becoming increasingly concerned about the environmental impact that their food choices have. Farmers in India may take the lead in providing services to customers who are worried about the environmental impact of their agricultural operations if they were given the opportunity to use solar panel farms.
The final Note:
Solar panels installed on fields might significantly revolutionise the agricultural industry in India by giving farmers access to low-cost electricity for a variety of purposes, including harvesting crops and pumping water. In addition, farming with solar energy will make it possible for smaller and less successful farmers to improve their standard of living by raising the likelihood that their crops would provide bumper yields even in areas where there is an inadequate supply of electricity.
Feel free to give Hydromo a call if you have any questions about the solar panels that will work best for you. We have a committed team that can offer the assistance you require to successfully manage a solar farm that produces a high yield and is economical to operate.
Hydromo Green Solutions compliant with IGBC standards
Follow Hydromo on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to learn more and more.