Life is “Better after solar energy”: sunlight harnessing the muddhin farmers is freedom and profit

Under the middle of the day, Devabhai Sawadiya slowly falls the salt frying pan that has been in his family for generations. It is quiet around it, except for the overwhelming movements of the salt vacuum cleaner and the soft, wandering sound of the dishes that are washed nearby.

This is a new development. For years, there was loudly, hanging diesel machines that constantly work to pump salty salts that hold underground, which farmers spread in square fields to evaporate and create salt crystals.

Now, they are the solar panels that spread in the vast arid desert, and occupy pumps.

The shift to harnessing several hours of sunlight sparkling in the Koch region of Gujarat state in India has changed a significant sorcerer.

“We have finally made a profit due to solar energy, after years of quads,” 59 -year -old farmer told CBC News.

“Before (we got) the solar panels, there was hardly enough money to eat, not more rupee.”

Bedouin salt farmers, who are called Agariyas, from their villages throughout Gojarat State to Ran Al -Saghir from the Coach desert every day, falls as soon as the winds of wind and tents recedes in the dilapidated Qabsulin tents near the salt swamps for the eight -month harvest season.

They do not have the swamps they work for generations to make salt that India needs, and it is the third largest salt producer in the world.

It is a governmental land that they return to it every year to help produce about 30 percent of Indian salt at home, and it is mostly table salt.

Until they received help to buy and install solar panels next to the salt basins, farmers will start every season of debt, and they are forced to borrow strongly from salt traders so that they can buy 15 barrels of required diesel.

The borrowed costs can rise up to 300,000 Indian rupees, or approximately $ 5,000 CDN, in a season.

“We will return with salt -filled bags, but we left nothing – the money is not enough,” Sawi said.

Diesel problems

He added that continuous smoke and toxins from diesel made them “sick and cause many problems.” His hands were also stained in black from having to distress with machines.

There are now paintings in Sawadiya in the Shamsa, a major place next to the family tent, where his young grandson, Koshti, plays. There is still a single diesel pump used only as a backup copy at night or when they are cloudy.

“It is comfortable with us that smoke has stopped,” said Swadia’s wife, Gasibin, Swadia, said.

“Life has become better after solar energy.”

The family managed to build a new house in their village and pay the price of their son’s wedding due to several thousand dollars they now provide every year without the need to buy diesel fuel.

There is freedom because “we do not have to borrow money from anyone else,” said Jasibin.

Huge government support

Most of nearly 5,000 from the Agariya family, which works in the salt desert, have benefited from great support from both Googa and Federal Governments that covered 80 percent of the cost of one solar panel.

This initiative is accurately proportional to India’s pushing for investment intensively in renewable energy, with a slowly attempt to submit a country dependent on coal.

The country of South Asia still depends on coal – the most fossil fuel species – for more than 70 percent of the energy it generates.

The officials also rushed to say that India, as a developing country, is within the limits of its rights to continue to delegate coal power stations to open it, even because it gives priority to clean energy.

However, the solar energy sector in India is growing rapidly, with the solar power now above 108 GB, according to the government’s press office. He sat in less than three gigawatts a decade ago.

“The output is very good”

The country also focuses on building large -scale solar farms and groups of millions of panels in rows and columns that produce clean energy.

“With solar energy, farmers’ expenses are close to zero and production very good,” said BharatBhai Somera, who has volunteered for years with local NGO health-rkshak, which calls for a salt cultivation community.

He grew up in the Agariya family in the salt desert and watched his father working constantly for a few gains.

The solar panels in Ran Little Coach, and the money they now provide, allow farmers to extend the harvest season, which means that the salt they produce is better quality because it has more time to crystallize.

The transition to renewable energy also fixed society ties.

“With diesel, farmers had to watch the machine 24 hours a day,” Somira said. If there is a family function, it will have to overcome it.

“Solar energy is now working on its own and they can go to see their families and attend weddings.”

The effect of support remains

But although the benefits were clear to Somera and his colleagues, he said that it took many demonstrations and a lot of persuasive “leaving the idea” with government officials before agreeing to support.

It lasted for five years, but the support is no longer provided, although the massive effect it had.

“The full exploitation and poverty episode that has been going on for generations, can (Agariyas) be broken within two to three years,” said Bangti Joj, a program manager at Agariya Het-Rakshak Manch.

She said that most families now have at least one solar panel, but with support subsidy, the insurance assistance system, in case the committee collapses or fades, would help most farmers.

Life in isolation

Life in the vast arid desert surrounded by salt swamps is still very difficult, with a sharp feeling of isolation.

There are no medical clinics or family doctors and children who go to school in abandoned buses, while removing their engines, and randomly stopped in the middle of the sunburn scene.

In the afternoon in the spring, dozens of children were temples on a bus, sitting in small offices in the interior of the car, with many older children who drive a vocabulary examination while waiting for the teacher’s arrival.

There is a desperate desire for more opportunities between many salt farmers, and Solar provides some answer.

Jerabhai Dhamecha, 34, has three daughters and one son, all in primary and middle school.

While he was wandering in the large salt frying pan, collecting salt crystals to one side, what his solar panels brought – a new brick house in their village, a new tractor, and a motorcycle.

“My grandfather did not have anything.”

Before solar energy changed everything, “We couldn’t even buy a bike,” said Dhamecha, 34.

“My grandfather had nothing. They used to carry water and bring it (to the fields) on foot.”

It now achieves about 60 percent of the profit, without being reduced by the cost of diesel.

Agariya colleague was charged with similar thought, as it impatiently showed how the solar -powered water pump worked.

Kalubhai Surela, 58, compared the panels to an additional son or his father, who has a long death, returns to help the family gain a completely new salary.

“Our ancestors only felt the sadness in this desert. Their lives were a struggle,” Sofella said.

“But now, after solar energy, there is pure joy here.”