India and Sweden have together unveiled a solar-powered ‘Smart Farm’ to promote sustainable food production. The farm is located at the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) facility in Gurgaon and uses the ‘Spowdi Mobile Pro MKII technology’ to address the issue of water overuse in agriculture and reduce dependency on fossil fuels.
Spowdi is a green tech engineering company that entered the Indian market in 2019. It introduced a unique solar-powered technology that uses drip irrigation process and distributes water directly to plants. In doing so, it helps farmers save up to 80% of water and improve yields.
The system used in this scenario uses a compact 150-watt solar panel to drip irrigate a 400 sq. meter land area. Moreover, it has been tested by NISE. According to the official statement, Spowdi is mobile and robust and can function efficiently in tough terrains and high temperatures.
“The solar-based micro-irrigation Farm, introduced in collaboration with NISE, showcases a futuristic micro-irrigation system that can help deal with the challenges of watering farmland more efficiently,” said Jai Prakash Singh, Deputy Director-General of NISE (MNRE).
“Leveraging modern technologies is the only way to overcome the challenges [water scarcity and rising temperatures] that lie ahead,” said Markus Lundgren, Charge d’ Affaires at the Embassy of Sweden at the inauguration.
The micro-irrigation farm is expected to serve as a learning resource for institutions and facilities that are exploring opportunities to improve the landscape of small-hold farming.
The Indian government is actively working towards integrating solar technology into the agricultural sector, employing innovations like solar-powered water pumps, Agrivoltaics, etc. This new initiative represents a significant and positive step forward, directly benefiting a segment of the population that is particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change.
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Resource: ET Energy
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