Demand For Solarisation Of Electricity In The Agricultural Sector

Indrani Joaddar, Amity University, Kolkata

CHAPTER I: ABSTRACT

According to the World Bank data recovered in 2022 India is currently country of 1,407,563,84 people, where around 60% of Indians are involved in the Agricultural industry directly or indirectly. Where 19% of India’s GDP is achieved from the agricultural sector and around 19.1% of the total exports that has happened in the year 2021-2022 has been contributed by the agricultural sector. In a total area of 3287263 square kilometres, there exist 6 lakh 40 thousand villages in India where key survival of the villagers is through agricultural industry and livestock industry. In the recent years India has been trying to achieve sustainable goals in the agricultural and farming industry as well. Asper the Annual Report published by the Information bureau of India titled as ‘Achieving Atmanirbharta in Agriculture’ dated 11th November, 2022 it states that India’s slogan for years has been screaming loud as Jai Jawan Jai Kisaan1. Furthermore, as rightly stated by the Report that till date India’s sole economy is generated from the agricultural sector, the farming sector. But the more important point to look ahead of our times is, what exactly is India doing to help and support the farmers? Or whether the amount of support and help the government is providing Indian Farmers with is enough for the development and wellbeing of their families?

Although it would be wrong on my part to completely deny the fact that recently there has been effective schemes, policies and frameworks to help farmers feel that the country is for them. The word kisaan or farmers have a very sensitive connotation in our hearts, not only because we often find ourselves sympathising with their conditions of livelihood but also because we owe to them everything, in fact they are reason why every day we are able to eat a plate full of meal. Therefore, it all comes from a sense of gratefulness. But the policy makers or the legislature however cannot afford to just showcase a sense of gratefulness and empathy, they should implement not only effective policies but also laws to support the farmers of our country. From 2018 onwards the government of India has tried enforcing such policies to enhance the income and most importantly increase the scope of income for farmers. For examples, some of the names of policies and schemes are, the PM Kisaan Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana for crop insurance policies, and Kisaan Credit Card facilities for small and micro loans for farmers, the KUSUM scheme etc.

India now presently is moving towards an increase in use of renewable energies, through the mediums of transport, cooking gases and biodegradable waste composting. India aims by 2030 to increase around 50% of sources for renewable energy. Therefore, as agriculture plays a very vital role in not only contributing to the total GDP of India but also various renewable methods could be implemented for the benefits of farmers in the agricultural sector. For example, use of solarised electricity for irrigation purposes.

In 2015, the Supreme Court of India in Hindustan Zinc India LTD v. Rajasthan Electricity Commission commented that, “industries need to get on board with renewable energy or risk getting fixed.” Through the same petition the Hon’ Supreme Court also stated that, “the provisions requiring purchase minimum percentage of energy from renewable sources of energy have been framed with an object of fulfilling the constitutional mandate with a view to protect the environment and prevent pollution in the area utilizing renewable energy sources as much as possible in larger public interest.” 2To understand and interpret we must first look into the Constitution of India and its respective provisions with regard to environment and agriculture. Firstly, Article 51(A)(g)3 of our Constitution exhibits a duty on every citizen to protect and improve the environment and have compassion for all living beings. Secondly, in the constitution ‘Agriculture’ has been placed under the State List and several ancillary matters related to agriculture under both the Union List and the Concurrent list. Therefore, to draw a nexus between the two most important aspects of our Constitution it could be interpreted as protecting the environment would also include controlling the increased level of pollution caused due to hazardous methods of farming, which includes using motor generators for irrigation purposes an alternative for which is switching to sustainable forms of farming for instance solarised electricity.

Therefore, this Article is an attempt to analyse and examine the demand for solarised electricity in agricultural sector. This article is a way through the ambitions of India in the field of renewable energy, transition 2030, the involvement of the World bank is funding such programmes or initiatives, a detailed study on the KUSUM scheme and its outcome, in the agricultural industry. Most important aspect of this article would be bringing out the need for sustainable farming methods.