Mrs. Sanno Devi lives in Veerpur village, Sirsiya Block, Shravasti. She is married to Amit Kumar and have 5 family members. They rely on farming for their livelihood. They own 3 acre of land in farming, but its spread out in different places. Since they live near the Nepal border, they face difficulties in getting things they need for farming. They don’t have enough information, good seeds or fertilizers and they also don’t have proper ways to water their crops. Despite their challenges, she grows cereal crops and uses a diesel engine to water their fields.
Sujalam Sufalam Interventions
With the support of TATA Trust, a collaboration was formed with Sustain + and GDS field team to organize a meeting. The goal was to promote the use of solar powered irrigation systems. During this event, Mrs. Sanno Devi learned about the benefits of solar pumps for irrigation and decided to get them for her irrigation needs. Sanno Devi inquired about the costs involved and learned that she could obtain the solar pump by contributing Rs. 51000. The remaining amount of Rs. 1,20,000 would be provided by Sustain +. She agreed to this arrangement and made her contribution in two parts. Initially she deposited Rs. 30000 in June and later after the solar pump was installed in August, she paid the remaining amount which was Rs. 21,000.
After Intervention
Monsoons are delayed during the Kharif season. Mrs Sanno Devi used a solar pump to water her paddy crops. Additionally, she offered irrigation services to other farmers and made Rs. 11,300 to Kharif season. She mentioned that she saved Rs. 25000/- by not having to buy diesel for irrigation. Now she intends to grow potatoes and then onions on one acre of land to increase her income for farming.