Bihar Rajapur Village Case

Project Report:
Using Solar Power and Drip Irrigation Pumps
(SPIP) to Improve Livelihoods for Vulnerable
Women Farmers in Bihar
Dr. P. Soman, JAIN Irrigation Systems Ltd., Anil Verma, PRAN,
Gaya & Alicia Harley (Harvard University)
Table of Contents
Topic
1
Project History
2
Project Location: Rajapur Village
3
Technical Details of SPIP System
4
Governance Details
5
Outcome
6
Cost Comparison
7
Major Challenges
8
Policy Impact
9
Next Time
Solar Powered Irrigation Project: History

August 2013 JAIN Irrigation Systems Ltd & PRAN
Gaya started collaboration to pilot a solar
powered pump and drip irrigation on paddy in
Rajapur Village, Gaya District, Bihar

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was
signed in September 2013

Seven families were selected as beneficiaries for
the scheme. These families also volunteered their
time to burry the drip system from the bore well
to the field.

The goal of the project was to bring benefits to
vulnerable farmers in south Bihar, improve access
to irrigation though the use of solar powered
irrigation pumps (SPIP), and examine synergies
between SRI and drip irrigation in paddy.
Project Location: Gaya District Bihar
Project Site: Rajapur Hamlet

Rajapur Hamlet is located near city of Gaya district,
southern Bihar.

Village created under the Government of Bihar Ceiling
Act approx 25 years ago

All families are of scheduled cast (SC)

Total 49 families in Rajapur

Total land area owned by residents of Rajapur village
12 acres

Average landholding size per family is 0.24 acres

All farmers in village have been supported by NGO
PRAN since 2007 to adopt System of Rice
Intensification and other technologies in agriculture
Technical Details of SPIP System

One 2.5hp Solar Pump from JAIN Irrigation Systems Ltd,

In addition, JAIN Irrigation provided drip system provided by JAIN
to seven farmers for a total of 1.16 acres of land.

System includes six plastic 1000 liter HDP holding tanks. Farmers
fill tanks during allotted time and then irrigate on their own
schedule  used in conjunction with drip system.

Farmers provided pre-existing bore-well and contributed their
labor to the instillation of PV pipes to the field (approximately 300
meter distance). Note that long distance between SPIP and field
prevents theft by having SPIP next to village; but comes at high cost.
SPIP Specifications
TOTAL COST
5 LAC / 500,000 RS
(~ 8,000 USD)
Solar Panel
2400 Watt
Pump
2.65 HP Pump
Pump
DC Submersible pump
Head
65 meter
Discharge
40000 Liter per day
Governance

Collective of seven families own the pump
(donated by Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd)

Women are responsible for governance of the
SPIP system including deciding on water-use fees,
schedule and collecting and depositing fees in
bank.

A seven-family-collective has agreed to charge
20RS/per hour to a collective account to pay for
future maintenance of system (solar panel
replacements etc).

Other families in village do not have direct
ownership rights to the system, but in case of
excess water other families purchase water at 25
RS per hour (price set by women’s group who
own SPIP).
Anu-Devi displays key box where farmers
will keep water-use charges. Box has five
locks with key
Farmers sign collective agreement amongst seven
families to share the solar pump
Results from First Paddy Season: Substantial Yields
Even Under Severe Drought Conditions

Using drip for paddy allowed
farmers to begin the paddy season
even under severe drought
conditions
Ton/hec
5
4.5
4
3.5
3

Average paddy yields in Gaya are
1.6 ton /ha
2.5
Ton/hec
2
1.5
1

With the SPIP + Drip system
farmers got around 3.5 tons/ha
0.5
0
Kaili Devi Bedamia
Devi
Annu
Devi
Kumoda
Devi
Parvati
Devi
Mamatia
Devi
Due to drought farmers in many parts of Gaya district
had zero yield for paddy in 2013; BUT farmers using
SPIP + Drip were able to not only ensure average
yields but exceed average yields
Vegetables: Improving nutrition security
and incomes in Rajapur Village

One of the major livelihood improving outcomes of the
project has been the ability to cultivate vegetables
during all three seasons.

Farmers reported significantly increased vegetable
consumption within the village, with villagers now
reporting consuming vegetables almost every day.

In addition, farmers are selling vegetables in local
markets improving cash income. Due to the drip system,
the farmers are able to extend their harvesting season
of vegetables, which allows them to obtain higher
market prices.
Example:Vegetable
yields from Anu
Devi’s land. She has
0.18 acres
Name of
Vegetable
Quantity in(K g)
Range of rate
per(k g)
Amount(R S)
Selling Period
Bottle gourd
412
4-8
916
Bitter gourd
245
8-15
2664
Ridge gourd
245
5-8
1015
Brinjal
48
4-8
438
Ladies Finger
142
10-12
1353
24/04/201417/07/2014
30/04/201430/07/2014
05/05/201422/07/2014
12/05/201422/07/2014
19/05/201425/06/2014
Rajapur Village Cropping Calendar and
Challenges
Months
Seasons
Crops Grown
Support from Community
Solar Project
June-September
Kharif /
Monsoon
Major Paddy
Crop/veg
Uncertainty of monsoon and erratic
rainfall resulted in failure of major
crops. After SPIP they are able to
get assured and good harvest of
Paddy and Kharif vegetables
OctoberFebruary
Rabi /
Winter
Wheat/Rapesee With support of SPIP all farmers
d/Pulses/Vegetab have started taking second crop in
les
large area
March-May
Summer
Vegetables
With SPIP the farmers are taking
summer vegetables which earlier
they were not taking. SPIP is helping
poor farmers earn hard cash
required to run the households
Comparison of Costs for Diesel and Solar
Power in Rajapur Village Project
Cost with
Cost of
Cost of
diesel
Pumping
Diesel
solar
Nature
pump per
hours for
engine
water
of crop
acre per
an acre water per
per
irrigation
hour (Rs) hour(Rs)
(RS)
Cost of
No of
Irrigation
Irrigation Per acre Per acre
per acre
s
in
in solar
of solar
required diesel(Rs)
(Rs)
pumps
(Rs)
(RS)
Monsoon/
Paddy
4
100
20
400
80
10
4000
800
Winter
Wheat
and
Vegetables
7
100
20
700
140
8
5600
1120
Summer
Vegetables
20
100
20
2000
400
15
30000
6000
Major Challenges

Small and marginal farmers are unable to get govt. subsidy due to their non
availability land receipt

Government of Bihar has plan to electrify all villages in Bihar by December
2015 and are currently making substantial progress

Government Under Nitish Kumar Privatized Power Distribution in Bihar
which is improving service and delivery in rural areas.

Farmers often “tap” into electricity supply illegally and have zero marginal cost

High up-front cost compared to diesel pumps

Operation and Maintenance of pump has NOT been a challenge, SPIP
system not experienced technical difficulties since installation and farmers
are able to manage
Policy Impact

The SPIP Project in Gaya

Selection of Decision Makers Who Have Visited the
SPIP Project in Rajapur Village:









P. Soman, Chief Agronomist and Senior Vice President,
JAIN Irrigation Systems Ltd.
Hari Manjhi, Member of Parliament of Gaya District,
Bihar
Sudama Mahto, The District Agriculture Officer, Gaya
Niraj Verma, The Deputy Project Director, Agriculture
Technology Management Agency, Gaya
Gaoussou Traore, Head National Center of
Specialization on Rice, Mali Erika Styger, Cornell
University
Sanjay Kumar Agrawal. The District Magistrate, Gaya
Deepak Gupta, Former Trustee and present Chairman,
union Public Service Commission, New Delhi
Avinash Kishore, Senior Researcher IFPRI New Delhi
Sahil Gulati, Senior Consultant Global Green Growth
Institute New Delhi
JAIN Irrigation Associates including Dr. P. Soman
learn from PRAN Farmers about their
experience of the project
Next Time

Better data collection and baseline understanding of
yields and food security indicators in village

Locate project in more remote areas unlikely to receive
electrification quickly

Begin with higher hourly water tarif; rental model?

Major Question: While technology can bring benefits to
small and marginal farmers, what kind of institutional
models might support access to SPIP for small and
marginal farmers at scale?
Thank you!
SPIP Cost Savings (as compared with Diesel)
Crop
Approximate Coverage area with
2hp SPIP System
Approximate Cost Savings
per acre using SPIP instead of
diesel (incl. 20rs/hour charge)
Rice
3 acres; 5-6 acres with drip or using
SRI practices
2,000 RS per acre with SRI
methods
Wheat
8-10 acres
1,300 RS/acre without drip
Vegetable
4-5 acres; 10-12 acres with drip
7,000-9,000 per acre with drip

2HP JAIN Irrigation Systems Ltd Cost: 1,200,000RS (20,000 USD)

Water from SPIP is eliminates need for diesel pumps which cost 100RS/hour in Rajupur area
(Approximately 60 RS/liter).

Approximate Annual Savings per Farmer: 2,825 RS

Approximate Annual Savings All Beneficiaries: 19,000 RS

Approximate payback period for SPIP system with 90% subsidy: 6 years (however this is a perhaps a
high figure figure because we did not include water sales to non-project beneficiaries (25RS/ hour)
because we do not have quality data on how much water is sold. Also we do not know whether the
system is being used at maximum capacity. Actual payback period could be lower).
COST OF DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM
JAIN IRRIGATION SYSTEMS LTD.
Ground Floor, L-1/1,Hazari Singh Lane,Boring Road,Patna-1
BOQ OF THE ALL THE PLOTS
ITEMS
SIZE
UNIT
QUANTITY UNIT COST AMOUNT
(Rs.)
(Rs.)
I. HEAD CONTROL UNIT
1.1
Screen Filter 7m3/hr
1.5"
No.
6
2004.60
12027.60
PVC for Main (4 kg/cm2)
63mm
Mtr.
63.70
5350.80
PVC for Submain (4 kg/cm2)
50mm
Mtr.
60.06
16216.20
Contrtol Valve
63 mm
No.
886.79
8867.90
Flush Valve
63 mm
No.
84
270
10
10
96.65
966.50
1000
Ltr.
No.
6
11536
II. WATER CARRIER SYSTEM
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
III. WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
3.1 Water Tank
3.2 Emitting pipe(1.6lph X 30cm)
12mm
6200.00
14.04
37200.00
161965.44
IV.FITTING UNIT
SUB-TOTAL:
IV.
V.
VI.
242594.44
(GI+ PVC) Fittings & Accessories 5% on material value.
VAT @ 5 %
Transportation Charge
GRAND TOTAL:
9500
12129.72
12736.21
9500.00
276960.37
DESIGN OF PLOTS
DESIGN OF PLOTS