Mobile solar pump becomes boon for char farmers

In an effort to reshape the destiny of Kurigram char farmers, the Rural Development Academy (RDA) introduced a portable solar pump for irrigation that has brought much-needed relief to them.

With the support of the government funded portable solar pump, around 1500 farmers of Bajradiyar-Khata village of Chilmari upazila now can irrigate their lands and produce crops at a significantly reduced cost.

The farmers in this region have long been grappling with the challenges posed by both floods and droughts, and had to rely on conventional shallow irrigation pumps for a long time, reports UNB.

The rise in diesel fuel prices for operating the conventional shallow machines, coupled with mechanical issues, has been a serious concern for a long time. The char area farmers are now rejoicing as the mobile solar pump offers them a cost-effective solution.

The advent of the solar pump has proven to be a dependable alternative, and ushering in positive changes.

Md. Harun Rashid, a farmer from Bajradiyar-Khata village, expressed his delight at the newfound ability to cultivate crops at a lower cost using the solar pump.

“The cost of using a shallow engine irrigation pump used to reach around TK 8000-9000 for one bigha of paddy field. Now, we can achieve the same water management for our crops at a cost of TK 4500. Our worries about water scarcity in the fields have been eliminated,” he lamented.

Another farmer, Md. Abu Bakkar, jubilantly talked about the transformative impact of the mobile solar pump on their farming practices.

“The days of scrambling for water in the fields are over for our community. We no longer have to race against time to secure water for irrigation. By contracting the services of solar pumps, we ensure consistent water supply for our paddy fields,” he said.

“We can now cultivate Iri-Boro paddy on the previously fallow land,” he added.

The innovative mobile solar pump boasts a setup comprising eight strategically positioned solar panels mounted on iron frames. Through the use of a battery-less converter, farmers are able to harness water from nearby rivers and canals by employing plastic piping and an electric pump. This approach has negated the need for cumbersome transportation, as the pump has been ingeniously designed to be mobile and transportable directly to the fields.

Md. Mahfuzar Rahman, responsible for maintaining the solar panel irrigation pump, said the mobility of this irrigation pump is truly an asset.

“The eradication of concerns about fuel and mechanical complications has been a game-changer. It can be effortlessly transported anywhere needed, further contributing to farmers' contentment by providing access to affordable water resources,” he said.

Kumar Pranay Bishan Das,  Upazila Agriculture Officer, shed light on the widespread benefits brought about by the mobile solar pump initiative.

“Approximately 1500 individuals are now reaping the advantages of this technology. The Char area's farming community has witnessed a surge of interest in the innovative mobile solar irrigation pump, marking a significant step forward in sustainable agriculture practices,” he said.