Bundelkhand region in central India is infamous for its frequent droughts. Due to the lack of water, farmers in this region have either been aligning their farming with seasonal rainfall patterns or are dependent on diesel or electricity operated pumps for irrigation. But the erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts and poor electricity supply have disrupted farming practices, making them riskier. 

Pumping ground water using solar energy is now seen as the solution to these water woes. The Central government started the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-Kusum) scheme in 2019 to overcome challenges of irrigation supply. Through this scheme the government subsidises these solar pumps for the farmers. However, solar water pumps rely on existing or available groundwater, which is already scarce in the region.

In this episode, Suno India’s Sneha Richhariya travels across three districts of central India’s drought-hit Bundelkhand region to understand if solar water pumps can solve the issue of irrigation for the farmers and figure if it possesses a threat to its groundwater levels.

Note: This report was produced with the support of Internews’ Earth Journalism Network. It was originally published by Suno India on 28 September 2023. 

Bundelkhand region in central India is infamous for its frequent droughts. Due to the lack of water, farmers in this region have either been aligning their farming with seasonal rainfall patterns or are dependent on diesel or electricity operated pumps for irrigation. But the erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts and poor electricity supply have disrupted farming practices, making them riskier. 
Pumping ground water using solar energy is now seen as the solution to these water woes. The Central government started the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-Kusum) scheme in 2019 to overcome challenges of irrigation supply. Through this scheme the government subsidises these solar pumps for the farmers. However, solar water pumps rely on existing or available groundwater, which is already scarce in the region.
In this episode, Suno India’s Sneha Richhariya travels across three districts of central India’s drought-hit Bundelkhand region to understand if solar water pumps can solve the issue of irrigation for the farmers and figure if it possesses a threat to its groundwater levels.
Note: This report was produced with the support of Internews’ Earth Journalism Network. It was originally published by Suno India on 28 September 2023.

In India, every year, the summers are getting longer, the winters harsher and the downpours intense. Floods in Assam, droughts in Tamil Nadu and growing problem of water scarcity in many states are no longer an abnormality but the new reality!There is an urgency to solve the problems caused by human induced climate change and to understand and find solutions before it is late. This is Climate Emergency and we will bring to fore and discuss the growing impact of climate change. We will also highlight and celebrate climate champions- individuals and communities who are undoing the damage done so far

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