North Bastar Kanker: State government’s “Saur Sujala Yojana” has been proven very beneficial in boosting crop cultivation and income of farmers of the district. The scheme is targeted to assist the farmers in remote areas across the state, where it is not possible to supply electricity.
Now the farmers no longer have to be dependent on electricity to irrigate their farmlands. Hundreds of farmers across the district are irrigating their fields by installing solar-powered irrigation pumps in their fields.
Sukontin Shorey, a farmer of village Nishanharra of Narharpur development block said that it was impossible to supply electricity to her field located in the hilly area. She was forced to practice traditional rain-fed farming due to a lack of irrigation facilities.
Availing the benefits of the ‘Saur Sujala Yojana’, she got 3 HP solar pumps installed on her farm. After some time, she started commercial vegetable production by cultivating vegetables like tomato, bitter gourd, and bottle gourd, which generated a good income.
Meanwhile, under Saur Sujala Yojana, power solar pumps are being provided to the farmers at subsidized rates of Rs 10,000, Rs 15,000, and Rs 20,000 respectively, the remaining amount is being borne by the state government. The scheme is being operated by the Chhattisgarh State Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA).
