Solar Powered Automated Irrigation System in Rural Area and their Socio Economic and Environmental Impact

Abstract

One of the most important solutions for the climate change crisis is the development of renewable energy sources like photovoltaic energy. This study is conducted to explore the socio economic and environmental impact of using solar powered automated drip irrigation system on drip owners of Faisalabad division. Drip irrigation technology takes into account innovations in the agricultural sector and their acceptance on behalf of farmers due to various factors of its particular adjustment goes back to social, economic and climatic conditions. Solar powered drip irrigation system is a micro irrigation system that saves water (H2O) and nutrients by allowing water to slowly drip to the roots of plants and minimize water evaporation by using indigenous resources like photovoltaic energy. This study focused on powered automated drip irrigation methods that have a significant impact on resource savings like saving in energy, labour cost and less use of water, improve crop yields and farmer profit that help to improve life of the rural areas. A sample of 48 respondents was selected conveniently from the Faisalabad division. Respondents were solar drip adopter. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were applied for data analysis to check the impact of solar drip irrigation on farmer. It was found that majority of solar drip owners are highly agreed to have change in their social status and self-reliance that are 39.58% and 72.92%. Using solar drip systems 79.17% farmers improve their product quality. This indicates that most solar drip owners have high socio-economic and environmental impact. Contribution/Originality:The study explained the designing procedure of PV system for 7.460 kW electric motor installed at automated drip irrigation system. To design PV system, PV array factor of 1.35 is used.Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were applied for data analysis to check the impact of solar powered automated drip irrigation.

The Socio-Economic Impact of Using Photovoltaic (PV) Energy for High-Efficiency Irrigation Systems: A Case Study

“…Table 8 shows that HEIS resulted in a 41% water saving. This saving in water is similar to that found in the studies conducted by Tamoor, M. et al [26] and Honrao, P. [38].…”

“…The unit cost of PV-powered HEIS was found to be 0.1219 USD/kWh, which was 4% and 66% less than the subsidized electricity cost and diesel cost, respectively, as shown in Figure 3. This saving in energy cost is similar to those found in the studies conducted by Mongat, A.S. et al [34] and Tamoor, M. et al [26].…”

“…This shows an increase of 132% earned by off-season tunnel farmers as their products achieved high prices, resulting in high income. This increase in farmer's income is similar to that found in the studies by Tamoor, M. et al [26] and Honrao, P. [38].…”

“…Photovoltaic power is also more cost-effective than a conventional diesel irrigation system, which provides farmers in remote areas with cheaper access to water and improves their socio-economic and living conditions [24,25]. Research works [26,27] have investigated the socio-economic and environmental effects of using photovoltaic-operated high-efficiency irrigation systems on drip irrigation owners. The results showed that photovoltaic-powered high-efficiency irrigation systems have a major effect on resource savings, such as energy savings, labor cost savings, and water usage reduction, as well as improving crop yields and farmer benefits, all of which help to improve the quality of life in rural areas.…”

Socioeconomic and Climatic Impacts of Photovoltaic Systems Operating High-Efficiency Irrigation Systems: A Case Study of the Government Subsidy Scheme for Climate-Smart Agriculture in Punjab, Pakistan

“…Tamoor et al [13] investigated the socio-economic and environmental impacts of PV powered HEIS in the Faisalabad. The findings show that PV powered high-efficiency irrigation systems have a significant impact on resource savings, such as energy savings, water usage reduction and labour cost savings, as well as enhanced agricultural yields and farmer benefits, all of which contribute to an improvement in agrarian standard of living.…”