India’s Maharashtra leads solar irrigation shift
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Farmers in Dawwa, a village in Maharashtra, India, are now using solar pumps to irrigate their fields, replacing reliance on diesel and unpredictable electricity.
For generations, farmers depended on inconsistent power and costly fuel to water their crops. Now, with reduced pump prices and government subsidies through schemes like PM-KUSUM and the Magel Tyala Saur Krushi Pump Yojana, farmers are adopting daytime irrigation powered by sunlight.
Maharashtra has become India’s leader in solar pump adoption, installing over 747,000 pumps and aiming for 1.045 million. In December 2025, the state installed 45,911 pumps in 30 days, setting a Guinness World Record. Across India, states are implementing different approaches to solar irrigation. Kerala has a 74% adoption rate, while Chhattisgarh’s earlier scheme influenced the design of PM-KUSUM. The cost of a solar pump varies, but subsidies of 60% to 90% are making them more affordable.
Farmers report savings of between Rs 40,000 and Rs 70,000 annually by switching from diesel pumps. However, studies show that the benefits of solar irrigation on water usage depend on local groundwater conditions, with incentives needed to encourage water conservation. While the rollout faces challenges like delayed approvals and equipment quality issues, farmers and officials are working to streamline the process and ensure wider access to this technology.
