Pune-Based Khethworks Develops Solar-Powered Irrigation System

Pune-based company Khethworks has developed solar-powered irrigation system. The innovation is aimed at addressing water crisis for farmers throughout the varied climate conditions in India.

The irrigation system is projected to make farmers liberated of seasonal rains or expensive fuel along with reducing carbon dioxide emissions and refining food security by developing solar pumps.

"We enable year-round irrigation, cultivation and income generation for small land holders in east India by developing and implementing affordable and reliable solar-powered pumps, designed specifically for farmers who own one acre or less land," as per company's website.

Over 30 million farmers in eastern India owned small plots that could be farmed year-round with appropriate irrigation, the company claimed.

Khethworks was launched in 2016 after they established their irrigation technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US. The company has developed from the MIT Tata Centre ecosystem and is buoyed by the Tata Trusts.

Presently, India has a target of installing 175 Gigawatts of wind and solar energy by 2022. If accomplished, it would be close to 50 per cent of India's current total installed power capacity.