Facing simmering hot weather almost for nine months in a year, Vellore district is eminently suited for harnessing of solar energy for various purposes.
The government is granting almost 80 per cent subsidy to farmers coming forward to install solar pumpsets for energising irrigation pump sets. K. Kumaravel Pandian who has installed a fixed type solar pumpset in his farm land in Sirukarumbur village in Kaveripakkam block availing of the subsidy given by the government last year told newspersons during a press tour of agricultural activities in Kaveripakkam block on Tuesday that he is able to harness solar energy throughout the day. He is using it for irrigating his horticultural crops including tomato, brinjal, papaya, drumstick, bitter gourd and chillies.
Uses Tangedco power too
Asked if he is able to avoid using electricity supplied by the Tamil Nadu Distribution and Generation Corporation for irrigation, Mr. Pandian said that he could not totally replace Tangedco power since the equipment that he has is not capable of storing solar energy for use in the night. Owing to water shortage, he has to irrigate the crop during the night too. M.S. Inbanathan, Executive Engineer, Agricultural Engineering Department said that 17 five-HP solar pump sets each costing Rs. four lakhs have been supplied to farmers with a subsidy component of Rs.3.04 lakhs, amounting to about 80 per cent.
The farmers are able to achieve a water output of 82,000 litres per day from the deep bore well by using the solar pump sets. Four solar pump sets have been supplied to farmers in Kaveripakkam block alone, he said.
Parameswari, wife of Mr. Pandian has established a shade net on one hectare of land with a subsidy of Rs.3.55 lakhs about two years ago in the same village.
The shade net is an innovative method of raising nurseries. She has raised seedlings of brinjal and other vegetables in the shade net.
Mr. Pandian said that they were able to make a profit of Rs.one lakh if they invest Rs. 7 lakhs for raising the nurseries in the shade net in a year. Mrs. Parameswari said that they supplied the seedlings to buyers in Chennai and other places.
R. Nanthagopal, Collector of Vellore district said that subsidy totaling Rs. 40.10 lakhs has been given to 15 farmers for installing shade nets on a total area of 15,000 square metres in Vellore district in the last two years. During 2015-16, a target has been set for setting up shade nets on an area of 20,000 square metres. The beneficiaries have been selected and work orders issued, he said.

Source : The Hindu