Association between the Independent Variables with Knowledge Level of Adopter and Non-adopter Farmers about the Solar-powered Water Pumping System in Rajasthan

Description

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21357389

Rohtash Kumar¹, Ashok Kumar², Rupender Kumar³, Rajesh Kumar⁴, and Anil Kumar⁵ (KVK Mandkola, Haryana^1,2, KVK Rohtak, Haryana³, DTPO O/o ADP, Haryana⁴, KVK Yamunanagar, Haryana⁵, and CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana^1,2,3,4,5)

Renewable energy stands as the most abundant energy source globally. Solar energy emerges not only as a solution to the present energy crisis but also as an environmentally friendly energy source. Photovoltaic (PV) generation represents an efficient method for harnessing renewable energy. Solar energy (Saur Urja) is a clean and green source of energy. Solar water pumps are used for irrigation of crops, water for livestock and provide portable drinking water. The Rajasthan government has announced a subsidy of up to 60 per cent on solar pumps ranging from 3 HP to 10 HP for farmers as part of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahabhiyaan (PM-KUSUM) program for the year 2023-24. The present study was undertaken to Association between the Independent Variables with Knowledge Level of adopter and non-adopter farmers about the solar-powered water pumping system in Rajasthan. Three districts were selected purposively and two villages were selected randomly from each of the three districts in the state of Rajasthan. A total of 40 farmers from each of three districts were selected, and from each of 6 villages, 10 farmers who adopted SPWP and 10 who did not adopt SPWP were selected to measure knowledge, attitude and training needs. As a result, the researcher carried out personal meetings with 120 farmers at their farms or homes. The independent variable income (r= 0.328), social participation (r= 0.3541), and knowledge of government. policies (r=0.331) variable was strongly positive correction with significant at 0.01% of adopters, whereas source of irrigation (r=-0.268) were positive correlation with significant at 0.05% of knowledge level of non-adopter farmers.