Context:
Over 70% of Assam’s population depends on agriculture, with 85% of farmers holding small or marginal land. Only 21.54% of net sown area is irrigated (2022), compared to the national average of 49.92%. Erratic monsoons, droughts, and expensive diesel pumps create high uncertainty for rain-fed farming. Farmers lack access to affordable irrigation and awareness of income diversification options like horticulture.
A Multi-Stakeholder Partnership
Lead Organisations:
- Gramya Vikash Mancha (GVM) – Grassroots implementer
- NABARD – Financial support via Tribal Development Fund (TDF)
- WRI India – Knowledge partner for sustainable energy and monitoring systems
Key Intervention Sites:
- Khatarbari and Kalcheni villages, Tamulpur district, Assam
Intervention Design: Clean Energy Meets Livelihoods
- Adapted ‘Wadi’ homestead model to promote horticulture (mango, guava, Assam lemon).
- Installed:
- 2 units of 2HP and 3 units of 1HP submersible solar pumps for 48 acres
- 3 portable solar pumps with custom trolleys, co-designed with women farmers
- Conducted energy needs assessment, technology training, and performance monitoring.
Key Outcomes
- Improved Irrigation Access: Enabled year-round water supply, reducing dry-season losses.
- Diversified Crops: Farmers now intercrop potatoes, tomatoes, papaya, chillies, leafy greens, and more.
- Women Empowerment: Reduced manual labour, greater participation in technology decisions.
- Reduced Emissions: Shift from diesel to solar supports India’s clean energy transition.
- Shared Infrastructure: Portable pumps allow collaborative use across adjacent plots.
Monitoring and Scalability
- Real-time flow meters and remote systems for pump performance tracking.
- Farmers are exploring value-addition technologies like cold storage and food processing.
- NABARD and GVM aim to promote local entrepreneurship and replicable rural models.
Why This Matters
- Reduces vulnerability of small farmers in one of India’s most climate-sensitive states.
- Demonstrates alignment with SDGs 2, 7, and 13.
- Offers a replicable framework for other rain-fed, low-income farming regions in India.
