Farmers in Jhenaidah see solar irrigation as relief from rising fuel and electricity costs. Pumps installed across several upazilas are lowering irrigation expenses and allowing owners to earn additional income by supplying water to neighboring farms after meeting their own needs.
Thirty-six solar pumps have been installed in Jhenaidah Sadar, Kotchandpur and Maheshpur upazilas: three in Sadar, one in Kotchandpur and 32 in Maheshpur. The program is planned to expand gradually to other areas of the district.
The Rural Reconstruction Foundation, or RRF, is installing the pumps under its SMART project with World Bank financing and technical support from the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation, or PKSF. The project aims to connect farmers with modern, environmentally friendly technology while reducing production costs.
Farmers say solar pumps cost less to operate than diesel pumps. RRF officials said irrigating the same amount of land previously cost Tk 400 to Tk 500, but solar pumps have reduced the expense to about Tk 200. Owners can also supply water to nearby farms, creating extra income.
Jhenaidah Sadar farmer Habibur Rahman said installing his solar pump cost Tk 1 lakh 70 thousand, including a Tk 45 thousand grant from the SMART project. He said the pump reduced his dependence on diesel and electricity and allowed him to irrigate neighboring land for income.
Solar pumps are also creating opportunities for flower growers in border areas of Maheshpur, where regular irrigation is essential. Farmer Sadikul Rahman said he installed a pump with project loans and grants and now irrigates his own land and about 15 bighas nearby. He said this brings extra income and reduces fuel dependence. Flower grower Gafur Mia said his pump eliminated oil and electricity costs for irrigation and lets him earn by serving other farmers.
Officials say reducing diesel pump use can lower fuel expenses, smoke and carbon emissions, helping expand renewable energy in agriculture. RRF Senior Assistant Director and agriculturist Dr. Asit Baran Mandal said farmer interest was growing after the installation of 36 pumps with PKSF support.
He said more than 100 additional solar pumps were planned. Irrigation that previously cost about Tk 400 to Tk 500 per bigha can now cost about Tk 200, reducing production expenses and increasing opportunities for profit.
Farmers hope expanded public and private support, easier loans and more grants will bring more growers under solar irrigation, reducing costs and increasing renewable energy use in agriculture.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report