Here is a good news for the farmers of the district interested in installing solar-powered water pumping system to irrigate their farms.

The Department of Agricultural Engineering here has launched a new scheme to provide 80 per cent subsidy on solar water pumps with 5 HP capacity.

The criteria for availing this facility are that the farmers should have bore wells with a six-inch diameter with 300-feet deep water and they should have installed the drip or sprinkler system of irrigation system to irrigate their farms.

While the scheme aims at creating awareness on the use of alternative source of energy (solar) to the existing conventional power from the Electricity Board, the proposed system would use the advanced sun-tracking panels to ensure power generation throughout the day.

The cost of the system is `4.39 lakh and the subsidy component `3.35 lakh, which leaves the farmer’s contribution to be `1.04 lakh. The farmers should ensure that shadow-free space was available near the bore wells for the installation of the solar-powered water pumping system.

The companies that supply the solar-powered water pumping system would also install, commission and maintain the units for a period of five years. Interested farmers could contact the officials of the Department of Agricultural Engineering in Vellore, Wallajah and Tirupattur and make use of the opportunity.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Express News Service – Vellore / February 21st, 2014