Maharashtra promises 8 hours of power supply to farmers in daytime through solar power

Amid growing demand by farmers for regular power supply in the daytime, the state government has turned to solar power to fulfil power requirements in Maharashtra. Farmers need electricity to operate irrigation pumps, while all mechanised operations in agriculture and allied sectors require electricity.

Since power supply in rural areas is irregular, farmers are forced to work on their fields at night, and this has remained unaddressed for several decades now. Load shedding during the day is common.

State Power Minister Nitin Raut told The Indian Express, “We have decided to provide solar energy, which will serve a twin purpose. First, it will help provide uninterrupted power supply to farmers in the fields for at least eight hours daily in the daytime. Second, 10,000 villages that have remained without electricity can get power using solar energy.”