Roadmap for Answer Writing 1. Introduction Briefly introduce agrivoltaics as a system that combines solar energy production with agricultural practices, where crops are grown underneath solar panels. Mention the growing importance of sustainable farming in India due to challenges like land scarcity, water ...
Climate change events like erratic monsoon patterns, heat stress due to temperature extremes, changes in pest and disease patterns, reduced water availability, etc. affect agricultural production and productivity. According to a study by the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture, raiRead more
Climate change events like erratic monsoon patterns, heat stress due to temperature extremes, changes in pest and disease patterns, reduced water availability, etc. affect agricultural production and productivity. According to a study by the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture, rain fed rice yields in India are projected to reduce by less than 2.5% in 2050 and 2080 and irrigated rice yields by 7% in 2050 and 10% in 2080 scenarios. Further, wheat yields are projected to reduce by 6-25% and maize yields by 18-23% in 2100.
To meet the challenges posed by climate change, while also meeting food and energy needs in an environmentally and socially sustainable way, climate smart water saving agri-technologies are becoming popular around the globe.
This is due to their significance in the following ways:
- Adapting to climate change: Climate smart water saving agri-technologies help to improve water management practices, using which farmers can maintain crop productivity even under changing climatic conditions.
- Water conservation: Irrigation can be improved through micro irrigation, mulching, use of water absorbents, etc. to maintain soil moisture. The use of these water-saving irrigation practices reduces the consumption of water by 25-85 percent.
- Saving energy: Renewable energy can be used as an alternative, especially for petroleum products used for on-farm irrigation pumps. It may also lead to reduced greenhouse gas emissions from such conventional on-farm irrigation pumps. For example, use of solar water pumps and solar sprays.
- Sustainable resource management: Climate smart water saving agri-technologies promote sustainable management of water resources. These technologies can minimise the dependency on groundwater, thus ensuring its sustainable use. In this regard, India is the largest user of groundwater in the world with over 60 percent of irrigated agriculture and 85 percent of drinking water supplies dependent on aquifers.
- Enhanced crop yield: Water saving technology like sub-surface irrigation can be used to enhance water-use efficiency, as it uses a buried diffuser that supplies water directly to the root zone and is 15-20 per cent more efficient than drip irrigation, thus enhancing crop productivity.
- Reduced input costs: These technologies can help reduce labour costs for farmers, thus lowering the input cost. Once installed, they require very little labour to operate, allowing farmers to focus on other tasks such as crop management and harvesting.
Though climate-smart water-saving agri-technologies are significant, their implementation and widespread adoption face several challenges like cost and affordability, lack of awareness about these technologies, etc. It is necessary to make these technologies available, accessible and affordable for farmers. Also, an integrated approach needs to be implemented in agricultural water management through adoption of innovative measures such as water harvesting, micro-irrigation and resource conservation farming to increase water-use efficiency in agriculture.
See less
Model Answer 1. Efficient Use of Agricultural Land: Agrivoltaics allows farmers to use the same land for both crop production and solar energy generation, optimizing space and resource utilization. For instance, in the Vidarbha region, a six-acre agrivoltaic system combined with a 100MW solar instalRead more
Model Answer
1. Efficient Use of Agricultural Land:
Agrivoltaics allows farmers to use the same land for both crop production and solar energy generation, optimizing space and resource utilization. For instance, in the Vidarbha region, a six-acre agrivoltaic system combined with a 100MW solar installation allowed farmers to continue regular agricultural activities while producing renewable energy.
2. Enhanced Agricultural Productivity:
The shade provided by solar panels helps create a microclimate that reduces plant stress, especially in areas with intense sunlight. A study in Greece found that solar panels reduced net radiation by 44% and wind speed by 38%, leading to a cooler environment that could potentially increase crop yields.
3. Water Conservation:
Solar panels reduce water evaporation, thereby conserving water for irrigation. At Oregon State University, agrivoltaics improved water conservation by 328%, showing how this system can drastically reduce the water needed for crop irrigation in water-scarce regions.
4. Additional Income for Farmers:
Agrivoltaics can generate additional revenue streams for farmers by allowing them to sell surplus electricity. For example, in Vidarbha, a solar system generated $27,655 annually from excess electricity sold back to the grid, offering farmers a sustainable financial boost.
5. Reducing the Carbon Footprint:
By generating clean, renewable energy, agrivoltaics reduces the reliance on fossil fuels and helps cut greenhouse gas emissions. This contributes significantly to climate change mitigation.
6. Enhanced Agricultural Resilience:
Solar panels provide protection against extreme weather conditions such as hailstorms, enhancing agricultural resilience. Agrivoltaics also contributes to powering essential farm facilities like cold storage units and irrigation systems.
Incorporating agrivoltaics into Indian farming could ensure a sustainable future for agriculture while improving food security and environmental sustainability.
Highlights:
- Efficient Land Use: Simultaneous crop production and solar generation (Vidarbha case).
- Enhanced Productivity: Cooler microclimates boost yields.
- Water Conservation: 328% improvement at Oregon State University.
- Additional Income: $27,655 annually from surplus electricity (Vidarbha).
- Reduced Carbon Footprint: Helps cut GHG emissions.
- Resilience: Protects crops from extreme weather.
- Improved Irrigation: Daytime power for irrigation.
See less