In an effort to make farming more sustainable and cost-effective, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif of Punjab has started a revolutionary solarization project for agricultural tube wells.
According to Express News, the first step involves converting 8,000 tube wells across Punjab to solar power. This will help farmers become less reliant on diesel and energy.
Maryam Nawaz announced a lottery system to choose farmers during the inaugural ceremony. She went over the Narowal list of winners, and Muhammad Nawaz of Attock was the first.
Farmers can anticipate significant cost savings from this program; estimates place the daily savings at up to Rs10,000, or more than Rs3.25 lakh per month. The government of Punjab is providing subsidies to help with the changeover. A 10-kilowatt system will cost Rs 5 lakh, a 15-kilowatt system Rs 7.5 lakh, and a 20-kilowatt system Rs 10 lakh.
The concept has garnered a lot of attention, with over 530,000 applications received and 385,000 farmers being qualified for the lottery. In order to reduce expenses and dependence on non-renewable energy sources, approximately 87% of tube wells that are currently powered by diesel and electricity will switch to solar power.
The first phase is to be finished by June, according to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s plan. Along with other programs such as the Farmer’s Card, agricultural mechanization, and internships, she stressed that this effort will transform Punjab’s farming industry and enhance farmers’ livelihoods.
Farmers in Punjab can look forward to a brighter and more sustainable future thanks to this solarization project, which is a huge step towards modernizing the sector.
