image
logo
COMPENDIUM, IEEC-2023   ( ISBN : 978-81-967860-4-5 )
Print
Theme 2: Recent Trends in Agriculture and Resource Management

Harnessing Solar Energy for Transforming Rural Agriculture in Western Rajasthan

Sifti, Seema Tyagi and J.K. Gaur

Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner -334001
siftikaur25@gmail.com

Abstract

Humans contribute to climate change and the rise of global temperatures which causes greenhouse gas emissions by extensive use of fossil fuels over the decades. This in turn has nearly smudged renewable energy as a power to regain the sustainability issues in an efficient manner. In order to harness the energy Western Rajasthan is a key area that can boost the powers of agriculture through Solar energy. The state recently produced 17.8 GW of solar energy and plans to install 30,000 MW capacity by 2025. Utilizing solar energy for agricultural operations can be a boon for farmers' economic empowerment and addressing sustainability issues. Technologies that directly or indirectly use solar energy to cultivate crops are available, like solar dryers, solar-powered water pumps, greenhouse heating, solar-powered cooling systems, and solar-powered tractors. Therefore, the utilization of such naturally powered technologies, solar can offer farmers and rural landowners a smaller environmental footprint that plays a crucial role in accelerating the transition to renewables. Beholding the great energy resources from the sun, the stint shapes through the challenges that demand policy solutions before the full potential of co-locating agriculture and solar generation which can be fully realized. Solutions that would promote the provision of public funds for rural energy development and incentive programms, are the circulation of tools and information that can help farmers make financially sound decisions, and the implementation of streamlined land use policies to facilitate solar development and protect crop yields. Thus, a game-changing energy can be utilized in agriculture by extending its use and awareness generation among farmers for a more productive and inclusive sustainable development in Western Rajasthan.

IEEC-2023 at RARI (SKNAU, Jobner), Jaipur, Rajasthan organised by Society of Extension Education, Agra, India