Solar for irrigation: a comparative assessment of deployment strategies
Solar pumps could improve access to sustainable irrigation for farmers in India. The central government is committed to supporting solar pumps through capital subsidy schemes. However, the adoption rate of solar pumps under the current policy has been slow, raising the need to research into alternative strategies to promote the adoption of solar-powered irrigation systems (SPIS). An effective approach will involve multiple perspectives, including the economic and other preferences of farmers, financiers and policymakers. In this report, focus on the economics of solar pump adoption for farmers and the government under different deployment approaches. Develop a financial model, and apply it to four key questions of interest to policymakers as they consider the costs and benefits of different irrigation pump deployment approaches.