Raipur : Saur Sujla Yojana is proving to be a boon in empowering the farmers

The state government’s Saur Sujla Yojana provides irrigation facilities to the farmers. The provision of irrigation facilities to farmers aids in enhanced agricultural output along with increasing the income of the farmer.

Saur Sujla Yojana is providing benefits to the farmers of Janjgir-Champa district. Under the scheme pumps are being installed for irrigation in their fields and the concerned authorities  also provide them information about various methods of irrigation with solar irrigation pumps. Farmers can now cultivate vegetables along with other crops due to the installation of solar pumps that have doubled their source of income. Under this scheme, the state government aims to strengthen agriculture and rural areas in Chhattisgarh by providing irrigation pumps to farmers at a subsidised rate. The scheme is operated by the Chhattisgarh State Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA).

Farmer Santosh Kumar Sahu and his son Rajesh Kumar Sahu of Khaira (Ghutia) village of Nawagarh development block, use solar pumps to irrigate his fields. He said that he is cultivating vegetables in his 3 acres of land. When he heard about Saur Sujla Yojana, he installed a 5 horse power solar pump on his land using which he irrigated his fields and is producing tomato, Lady finger, brinjal, chilli, bottle gourd, cabbage, bitter gourd, coriander and other vegetables. As a result of this, they make a nice living from it. He said that last year he earned Rs 7 lakh from vegetable production, and this year he has sold vegetables worth Rs 2 lakh .

According to the information received from CREDA, under Saur Sujla Yojana, Pumps with a 3 HP capacity are being provided to SC/ST farmers for Rs. 7000, OBC farmers for Rs. 12000, and general category farmers for Rs. 18000.  Similarly, Pumps with 5 HP capacity, are being provided to SC/ST farmers for Rs. 10000, OBC farmers for Rs. 15000, and general category farmers for Rs. 20000. The rest of the amount is being borne by the government as a grant. The scheme is being operated by the Chhattisgarh State Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA)