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Solar Agriculture Feeders: An Attractive Alternative compared to Solar Pumpsets in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh - A Discussion Paper
Published by Knowledge In Civil Society
with support from
Centre for World Solidarity, Prayas (Energy Group), People’s Monitoring Group for Electricity Regulation, and SWAPNAM

Authors:
Sreekumar N- Trustee (KICS) and Member, Prayas (Energy Group)
M Thimma Reddy– Convenor, People’s Monitoring Group for Electricity Regulation
BN Prabhakar– President, SWAPNAM, an NGO working on water and power related issues

This discussion paper presents an alternate option for using solar energy for agriculture pumpsets.

Electricity powered agriculture pumpsets is the mainstay for agriculture in Telangana and AP. This area has many challenges for the farmer, Distribution Company and the state government. Farmers invest heavily in well based irrigation, but are unhappy with the poor quality of electricity supply. Distribution Company is unhappy with the low revenue from a large number of consumers spread over a large area. State has to bear the subsidy burden to support low tariff for the farmers.

Solar power offers some hope by way of providing quality electricity supply during the day time, which is convenient to farmer. Distribution Company also finds it attractive since it reduces the burden to allocate generation capacity for agriculture. It is environment friendly and reduces distribution losses, if generation is distributed.

There are three possible solar options for agriculture pumping - large centralised solar plants, solar powered agriculture feeders and solar pumpsets. All options need to be encouraged, but prioritised based on the strength and weakness of each option in different circumstances. We feel that for states like Telangana and AP, solar powered agriculture feeder is a more farmer-centric and equitable option. In addition, investment burden on the government is lower, quality of supply is better and maintenance is easier.

Solar feeder is thus an investment program with good returns, compared to the subsidy driven solar pumpset program. This paper describes the solar feeder option and recommends that a few pilot projects be taken up to assess any fine-tuning aspects, before scaling up.

[Download E-Copy(English)] [Dowload E-Copy (Telugu)]

Organic Farming & Agro-ecological Approaches: Ready-to-replicate Best Practices From Around India
Published by Knowledge In Civil Society
with support from Centre for World Solidarity

Authors:

Kavitha Kuruganti - Trustee (KICS) and Member (ASHA)

Indhubala Kesavan - Intern (KICS) and Student (University of Hyderabad)

This booklet has been created as a policy note on agro-ecological approaches in Indian agriculture, based on good practices and strategies adopted by different policies and programmes for promoting organic farming in India. The booklet dwells on policy and legislative measures that have helped some state governments to take forward a strong agenda of promotion of organic farming.

It is hoped that this compilation will be useful as a policy tool with ready-to-replicate ideas and practices to be picked up and implemented by state governments all over the country. It also makes a case for why organic farming is an imperative and not a choice any more, and the various benefits that can be expected from large scale promotion of organic farming. This booklet will also be useful for civil society actors for use in promoting and advocating organic farming in the country.

[Download Ecopy]

Sharing Session – 33
The Personal is Political:
A continuing struggle for gender equality

Speaker: Dr. V Rukmini Rao
Date and Time: March 20, 2015, 1600 – 1800 hrs
Venue: CWS Conference Hall,
12-13-438, Street No. 1, Tarnaka, Secunderabad - 500017

Having experienced gender discrimination and vulnerability through her personal experiences Dr. V. Rukmini Rao decided to work with vulnerable women in 1975, starting her work in form of a research project to study the situation of women workers in public sector companies. Informally, at the same time, she also started working with women activist-friends in Delhi, to bring justice to families whose daughters were burnt to death for dowry. Since then her journey has intersected with several issues and raised many questions and challenges. How can ordinary citizens influence government? How can we impact the law making process?

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What do the beneficiaries of Government schemes make of them? How do they view and engage with these schemes?

Dr. Chitra Krishnan reflects on five different rural development schemes as experienced and written by two villagers from a semi-arid region of Southern Karnataka. What is the actual nature of involvement of beneficiaries? What are the spaces for their engagement with the schemes? What is the outcome of such involvement . How far do other actors influence these outcomes.

In discussing these aspects, Dr Krishnan examines the theme of collective action, when it is needed, when it seems counterproductive and what can be expected out of such action.

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