Solar Solution for Bihar Farmers

Solar Solution for Bihar Farmers

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Soni Devi and her husband Shashi Paswan are from Indaut, a village in Hilsa block in Bihar’s Nalanda district. As farmers they faced challenges due to lack of proper irrigation facilities, resulting in low crop yields and financial instability. But a solar-based lift irrigation system  transformed their barren land into green fertile one.

The couple live with their four children. The two older children study at a school in the village while the two younger ones go the local anganwadi centre. Sashi used to help her in the field during sowing and harvesting but farming wasn’t enough—they had one acre of cultivable land and another 0.3 acres which was left fallow due to no irrigation facility. To make ends meet Sashi had to travel to Patna for work.

A solar-based lift irrigation system in Indaut village was set up through Project Utthan, an Oxfam India-HDFC Bank project. The system can irrigate 25 acres of land, which means farmers can irrigate their land independent of the electricity supply in rural Bihar. The system has been installed in areas where land lay bare due to lack of irrigation facilities. Most farmers in the area could not afford their own pump and boring instruments, making irrigation a significant challenge.

After the installation of the solar-based lift irrigation system, Soni and Sashi’s once barren land has become fertile; the land is now cultivable, she has managed to increase her produce, in fact even produced surplus crop. With the system, they can now cultivate throughout the year; they have estimated an increase in their annual income by almost Rs 30,000.

Three solar-based lift irrigation systems have been installed across three blocks (Hilsa, Harnaut and Naganausa) in the Nalanda District. These systems have led to increased crop yields, promoted more sustainable water usage practices, and improved the livelihoods of farmers in the community. While the solar panels, submersibles, and pipes were provided through the Project, the community members constructed a small room. This 'irrigation room' is used to keep tools and equipment of the irrigation system. It also doubles up as a meeting room and office for maintaining and keeping records.

The upkeep of the irrigation systems are the responsibility of the Sichai Samitis, who are all the members of the group. Soni and Sashi are members of the Dharamveer Samhuik Sichai Vikas Samiti in Hilsa block. The Hilsa committee has 11 members while the Harnaut and Nagarnausa committees have 14 and nine members each. In order to make it a sustainable endeavour, the members of the group pay a rent of Rs 10 per katha (0.03 acres) and non members are charged Rs 20.

Project Utthan—an Oxfam India and HDFC Bank initiative—in Nalanda promotes and supports sustainable livelihood opportunities and improves access to essential services (particularly for women) across 15 villages. The project works with the most marginalised communities.

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