Solar irrigation lets you earn a steady income by powering pumps with the sun—no diesel, no grid, just clean energy that keeps water flowing.
Ladli Khatoon’s story starts with a loss: her son died when he was helping irrigate fields. That moment made her realize how dangerous conventional pumps can be and how a reliable water source could change a whole village.
After a JEEViKA workshop, Ladli learned that a 5‑horsepower solar pump, a set of panels, a borewell, and a small pipeline could cost ₹4,92,275. She put in ₹1,79,420 of her own money and got a ₹1,25,000 loan from Rang De. The investment paid off: she now supplies water to 35‑38 farmers and takes home roughly ₹1 lakh a month.
The program isn’t a one‑off. It partners with the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme and the Gates Foundation to hand out loans, training, and technical help to women across 12 panchayats. Together, 189 women run solar pumps, irrigating 1,410 acres and earning over ₹1.28 crore.
Other women, like Anu Devi and Sita Devi, took the plunge too. Anu’s pump, installed in June 2023, now serves 30 farmers and nets her ₹2.25 lakh. Sita’s system started in December 2023 and she’s already earned more than ₹1.5 lakh, covering her kids’ schools and household bills.
If you’re a farmer, a community leader, or just curious about green business, here’s the practical route: 1) Join a local self‑help group or cluster federation; 2) Attend a JEEViKA or similar workshop to learn the basics; 3) Apply for a micro‑loan or a subsidy; 4) Get a 5‑horsepower pump kit; 5) Start small, supply water to neighbours, and reinvest the profits. For the exact kit price and loan terms, call the local JEEViKA office or visit their website. Your first step could be a sunny, profitable future.