Solar pumps under PM-KUSUM changing irrigation patterns in parts of Saharanpur
Farmers in parts of Saharanpur district have begun using solar-powered irrigation pumps installed under the PM-KUSUM scheme to run daytime irrigation for water‑intensive crops, a report said. The locally observed shift has allowed at least some cultivators to reduce their reliance on diesel engines, intermittent grid supply and canal water for irrigating fields.
The report highlights a farmer operating a 7.5 kW PM-KUSUM pump roughly from 08:00 to 17:00 to irrigate an area of about 15–16 bighas. According to the coverage, growers described the availability of solar-powered daytime pumping as particularly useful for sugarcane and paddy, two crops that require substantial and timely water application.
- Pump capacity cited: 7.5 kW
- Reported operating window: 08:00–17:00
- Area irrigated in cited example: 15–16 bighas
- Crops benefiting: sugarcane and paddy
Farmers quoted in the item said the solar systems reduce dependence on diesel in remote locations where fuel transport and engine maintenance add cost, and offer an alternative where grid electricity is unreliable or canal water supply is irregular. The coverage, however, is descriptive of individual experiences and does not provide district-level deployment figures or quantified estimates of fuel or electricity savings for Saharanpur.
| Parameter | Reported detail |
|---|---|
| Pump model / capacity | 7.5 kW |
| Daily operation (reported) | About 08:00–17:00 |
| Area irrigated (example) | 15–16 bighas |
| Principal crops mentioned | Sugarcane, paddy |
"Daytime access is particularly useful for water‑intensive sugarcane and paddy cultivation and in areas affected by outages," the report said, reflecting farmers' assessments of the technology's benefits.
PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan) is the central government scheme aimed at promoting decentralised renewable energy for agriculture, including solarisation of pumps. The account of usage in Saharanpur is consistent with broader policy aims to substitute diesel and grid dependence with solar power for irrigation. But the report makes clear it is describing individual users rather than presenting comprehensive statistics for the district.
Local agricultural stakeholders and water‑management officials will be watching such on‑farm experiences closely. For farmers, daytime solar pumping can alter irrigation scheduling, reduce recurring fuel expense and provide a predictable pumping window tied to sunlight availability. For planners, questions remain about integration with existing electricity supply, potential impacts on groundwater (by facilitating additional irrigation) and the scale-up needed to reach more growers across the district.
Policy experts nationally have cautioned that while solar pumps reduce fossil fuel use, they can also increase irrigation intensity if not paired with water‑conservation measures. The report for Saharanpur does not address groundwater levels, farmer repayment terms for PM‑KUSUM installations, subsidy disbursement or how beneficiaries were selected.
In Saharanpur, where sugarcane and paddy are major crops, wider adoption of daytime solar pumping could affect cropping decisions and energy expenditure for many cultivators. Local agriculture extension agencies and the district administration will need to monitor field-level outcomes, ensure technical support for installed units, and collect systematic data on installation numbers, hours of operation and actual savings to build a fuller picture for policy and planning.
Until district-wide figures and measured performance data are available, the current account offers a snapshot of how a PM-KUSUM pump is being used on an individual farm in Saharanpur and the immediate advantages reported by growers in the example cited.
