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Uses of solar power in Agriculture

India is an agricultural country, and most of the industries are dependent on the raw materials coming from agriculture, hence for the increasing population of the country, food and many other items come from agriculture only, which is a difficult task. More electricity is required to use the equipment used in agriculture, but even today it is a difficult task to meet the electricity requirement in the remote parts of the village. As per the requirement of the country, we get most of the electricity from coal-fired factories, but these sources are limited and also cause air pollution. The government has been promoting wind energy for some time, but it is expensive to maintain, and not suitable for every area. Therefore, now the government is focusing more on solar energy for the benefit of farmers, it is less expensive and simple in maintenance, which can be easily installed in the field, house roof or any field, thus eliminating the problem of electricity. There will be a permanent Solutions are being made, India is a tropical country where sufficient sunlight is available almost throughout the year. Also, the central and state governments are providing financial assistance to farmers through many schemes for setting up solar energy plants.

What is Solar Energy

What is Solar Energy

The use of solar energy is capable of bringing a revolutionary change to the agriculture sector, which in many ways helps in saving valuable water resources, reducing electricity dependency, saving electricity costs and even becoming an additional revenue source. It is possible Some people believe that solar energy can be used only for lighting or to meet domestic needs, but today we are providing you information about other useful uses of solar energy in agriculture sector which is very useful for you. will be useful.

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1 Solar powered water pumps

1 Solar powered water pumps

In many places where electricity supply is limited or unavailable or dependent on weather, solar water pumps can be very useful. Solar pumps use solar energy to provide water from reservoirs and canals to fields for irrigation and other purposes, which reduces dependence on power cuts, and saves time and money, which is economically helpful for farmers. For this type of use, electricity is stored in the battery which can be used anytime during the day or night by the inverter. This electricity can be used efficiently to run pumps to supply water. The 7.5 HP Solar DC Submersible Water Pump can be directly operated by solar power. Solar panels generate electricity, which is used to power the motor. Because the motor of the water pump runs on direct current, this type of pump does not require a solar inverter. The number of solar panels required to run a well pump depends on the HP of that well pump. RPS systems range from requiring only 2 solar panels for a 1/2 HP pump to approximately 20 solar panels for a 5 HP.

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2 Water and room temperature:-

2 Water and room temperature:-

In India, animal husbandry and dairy operations are done as a secondary business along with agriculture, but the different weather conditions in different parts of the country pose a challenge to this business, since most of the animal husbandry and dairy operations are done in closed structures. Therefore, proper temperature and air quality are important for operation. By installing solar panels on the roof of closed dairy structures, solar powered fans, heaters and even coolers can be used to reduce the temperature during the summer season, running only the fans or heaters during the day. 10 Kilo Volt electricity is required which costs around Rs 12 lakh which after 40% subsidy comes to around Rs 7 lakh. If hot water is required according to the season, then the heater for 100 liters of water is available for Rs 15 to 17 thousand, in which a discount of up to 15% can be availed. For which farmers currently use wood or coal which causes air pollution and also wastes time. By using solar powered heating system, farmers can easily save costs on electricity bills. And can effectively use temperature control systems as needed.

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3. Drying of crops and grains

  1. Drying of crops and grains

Sunlight has been used by farmers for centuries to dry crops and grains, although it is a completely free, viable method that can be easily employed, but it does expose the crops to air, mold, There is a risk of coming in contact with insects etc. and polluting them. Solar dryer is used to eliminate moisture content from crops, vegetables and fruits. The solar dryer consists of a box made of easily available and inexpensive materials like cement, zinc iron, brick and plywood. The upper surface of the box is covered with transparent single and double-layer glass sheets, the inner surface of which is kept black to absorb the incoming sun rays. These boxes work in such a way that they do not let the energy inside escape and as the air inside gets heated, it naturally rises and moisture gets released from the fruits, vegetables and crops kept in the tray inside the box. , When the temperature inside the box increases, hot air leaves the space near the glass and fresh air comes in rapidly from the bottom and this process continues. Today with the advancement in technology, there are solar dryers that can help in harnessing maximum solar energy and concentrating it in a closed container where trays are used to dry the produce. This system allows the process to be carried out in less time and in any weather.

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4. Green House Management

  1. Green House Management

Commercial greenhouses are used to grow certain crops and plants for higher profits or in harsh climates, where, under appropriate conditions, they use sunlight for light rather than heat. They depend on oil and gases for their livelihood. Solar greenhouse heating systems are used to both provide needed lighting and maintain proper temperatures. A solar greenhouse consists of a solar panel to collect energy and a battery to store the energy. It also has insulation that helps retain warmth during cold days and nights. If you operate 10,000 square feet of greenhouse space, So you will need 27 3-feet x 5-feet solar panels to supply your electricity. If you are installing a 2 kilo kilowatt solar panel, it will cost approximately Rs 1.20 lakh. But if you get 40 percent subsidy on it from the government, then your cost will reduce to Rs 72 thousand and you will get a subsidy of Rs 48,000 from the government.

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5. solar powered cold storage

  1. solar powered cold storage

In many places, farmers have to face huge losses due to lack of cold storage in the fields. Or even if there is cold storage, they are not able to avail the facility due to power cut. Actually, to run these cold storages throughout the day/night, a lot of electricity is required, which is not available in many areas. Through cold storage, farmers can keep their products safe for a long time under any adverse conditions. Solar powered cold storage will help deal with this problem. The refrigeration systems used may have a continuous supply of electricity from batteries connected to solar panels, where electricity can be supplied directly during the day and from stored energy at night. There are 3 types of solar powered cold storage • Small cold storage: which is used for personal purposes • Medium cold storage: Used in small groups or at community level. • Large cold storage: used for large-scale businesses A 10 metric tonne cold storage requires 5 to 6 kilowatt solar panels. Some state governments are giving subsidy up to 50 percent on the cost of setting up small and medium cold storages. The state government has fixed the unit cost of making small cooling chambers at Rs 13 lakh, on which 50 percent subsidy is being given. Solar energy is a never-ending resource and it is the best replacement for non-renewable resources, and solar energy is also beneficial for the environment as it does not pollute the environment. Since solar energy is a non-renewable energy resource. Therefore, in countries like India where energy production is expensive, then these resources are the best alternative which is cheap and useful for a long time.

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The state government and the central government are jointly running many schemes for setting up solar power plants, such as Agriculture Department Madhya Pradesh Surya Raitha, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha, PM Kusum Yojana, which farmers can take direct benefit from. And for more information you can get information in our “Government scheme” section.

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