Why solar irrigation pumps are the future of agriculture
Changes in weather patterns over the last few years have become a cause for concern globally – particularly because these changes have led to a decline in food production in many countries, including Bangladesh. The Russia-Ukraine war also disrupted the global food supply chain from Russia and Ukraine. As a result, in Asia, India is under pressure to export crops to many countries. But due to internal political pressure ahead of the upcoming national election, the Indian government decided to stabilise the domestic market and, to this end, suspend the export of staple crops like rice and wheat, and increase export duties on other food items like sugar and onion. As a result, Bangladesh, who depends mostly on India for importing rice, pulses, ginger, garlic, onions and sugar, has a reason to be worried.
In light of this situation, the government has allowed import of these food grains from other countries at higher prices, which is putting pressure on our already depleting foreign exchange reserves.
In Bangladesh, the Aman paddy season normally starts in June-July. According to the information provided by the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, the rainfall that occurred in June was 16 percent less than usual, and that in July was 50 percent less.
On August 23, a forecast by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said that rice production in Bangladesh in the 2023-24 marketing year may be 700,000 tonnes less than their previous forecast in March, because of which the country may have to import as much as one million tonnes of rice this year. This is mainly because there has been almost no rain during the Aush season and a drought during the Aman season.
Agricultural experts say the yield in the current Aman season may be lower than expected as farmers have delayed planting of Aman paddy by 12-15 days after waiting for rainfall. Agriculturists say if farmers don't plant their saplings at 22-28 days of age, the production will decrease by three to four maunds of paddy for each bigha of land.
Farmers and stakeholders in the areas where SIPs are used to cultivate paddy said the irrigation cost was almost half of that from fuel- or electricity-powered pumps. The cost of irrigating one bigha of land with a solar pump from the planting stage to the harvesting stage is Tk 1,000-1,500. On the other hand, it takes Tk 3,000-3,500 per bigha for diesel or electricity pumps.
However, an exception has been seen in areas where solar irrigation pumps (SIPs) have been used. Farmers in these areas have managed to plant paddy at the right time and at lower costs, despite having a drought. As a result, they will harvest crops on time, expecting good yields. Though SIPs have many benefits, a very small amount of land is being cultivated using these pumps.
As per data from the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA), solar power contributes 80.4 percent, or about 960 megawatts (MW), of green power in the country. Some 2,877 SIPs installed in the off-grid areas across the country account for 52.29MW so far, contributing to 1,194MW of power generated by renewable energy every year. The Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (IDCOL) has installed 1,523 SIPs, generating 42MW, while the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority has set up 792 units.
Farmers and stakeholders in the areas where SIPs are used to cultivate paddy said the irrigation cost was almost half of that from fuel- or electricity-powered pumps. The cost of irrigating one bigha of land with a solar pump from the planting stage to the harvesting stage is Tk 1,000-1,500. On the other hand, it takes Tk 3,000-3,500 per bigha for diesel or electricity pumps.
There are multiple benefits of using SIPs for poor farmers. They do not need any capital to install solar pumps privately. Besides, farmers do not need any labour costs to irrigate crops. SIPs have a minimal maintenance cost compared to electricity or oil machines. A solar pump, once installed, can run uninterrupted for at least 20 years. Around 100-150 bighas of land can be cultivated with an SIP of appropriate capacity.
However, SIPs generate electricity round the year, but it is only used for paddy cultivation. The surplus electricity can be supplied to the national grid from these SIPs throughout the year.
SIPs will also greatly help in curbing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in the country. According to the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, we import about five million tonnes of diesel every year. According to IWMI data, diesel emissions in agriculture account for about 3.2 million tonnes of carbon annually in the country. The government wants to reduce carbon emissions in the country to meet the NDC target by 30 years. That's why IDCOL, a government agency, wants to install about 10,000 SIPs by 2030, but it has installed only 1,523 so far since 2010.
Now the crucial question is, why isn't the government making progress in this sector?
Nasrul Hamid, state minister for power, energy and mineral resources, recently said these kinds of solar panels take up a lot of agricultural land. Therefore, the government is not allowing such projects. However, farmers say that since the water pipe is extended to crop land underground in the case of SIPs, the amount of land lost to install a solar pump is compensated as there is no need to make any soil-made drainage.
The bottom line is that, considering the impacts of climate change and adverse weather patterns, there is no alternative to SIPs to save our farmers from high production costs, reduce the amount of carbon in the air, and enhance food security for our people.
Mostafa Shabuj is a journalist at The Daily Star.
Views expressed in this article are the author's own.
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