Khunti (Jharkhand): Solar-powered lift irrigation is helping farmers in Jharkhand overcome water shortages in elevated fields, opening up opportunities in horticulture and improving rural livelihoods.

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In Shilda Bada Toli village of Khunti district, farmer Kaisar Ali has used solar-powered irrigation and drip technology to develop a guava orchard spread across nearly three acres. With around 5,000 Taiwan Pink guava plants, the orchard produced nearly 20 tonnes of fruit this year, generating an income of approximately ₹20 lakh, he said.

Ali received a solar-powered pump through the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS). Initially using it to irrigate vegetables, he later expanded into guava cultivation.

The initiative, implemented with the State Irrigation Department, is supporting lift irrigation projects in 10 to 12 blocks across Jharkhand. The systems pump water from rivers, ponds and other sources to fields through pipelines, helping farmers irrigate land that would otherwise be difficult to reach. Solar-powered pumps also help reduce irrigation costs.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren said combining traditional farming practices with technology was necessary to help farmers cope with uncertain rainfall.

The expansion of horticulture is also creating employment within villages. 

Ali’s orchard illustrates how access to irrigation, solar technology and improved farming methods can help rural families diversify cultivation, increase earnings and create local employment.