Punjab’s rice farmers are increasingly turning to solar-powered tube wells, boosting irrigation efficiency and cutting energy costs, but the rapid shift is raising concerns over groundwater depletion and Pakistan’s long-term food security.
In Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province, rice farmers are increasingly using solar panels to power tube wells—motorised groundwater pumps that make irrigation easier and reduce reliance on erratic electricity and costly diesel.
Rice Farmer Karamat Ali said, “Water supply to my paddy feed is smoother than before,” highlighting the convenience of solar irrigation.
He added that the solar helps them save money and avoid fuel costs.
“It keeps my costs low because it runs without diesel and keeps my water supply running smoothly.”
As Pakistan embraces a solar revolution, Punjab farmers are using sun-powered tube wells for more frequent irrigation, expanding rice fields by 30% between 2023 and 2025, while maize cultivation has dropped 10%.
Although exact numbers are unclear, some 400,000 tube wells previously running on grid electricity have now switched to solar, with an estimated additional 250,000 purchased since 2023, totalling around 650,000 solar-powered wells.
Some farmers said they're making large profits from the switch.
Mohammad Naseem is a 61-year-old farmer and said, “In four years, I have made a profit of between $7,000 and $8,000. Even if it is $177 per month, it is around $2,000 per year.”
Analysts say this transition could reduce the agriculture sector’s grid electricity use by 45% by 2025.
While solarisation lowers energy costs and reduces diesel use, it has coincided with a rapid decline in Punjab’s groundwater.
Internal Punjab water authority maps show water tables dropping below 60 feet across 6.6% of the province, a 25% increase since 2020, and deeper aquifers beyond 80 feet more than doubling in size.
Officials say solar irrigation doesn’t increase water use, though Punjab’s irrigation minister acknowledges it impacts water levels. Measures such as aquifer-recharge projects and old infrastructure restoration aim to slow depletion.
Researcher for Punjab's Irrigation Department, Adnan Hassan said, “We have to pay special attention to the water quality. What we are injecting in the aquifer, that quality must be equal to the drinking water quality. If you inject polluted water from the roads to the aquifers, then the next generation will suffer the consequences.”
Farmers benefit financially and in crop quality, with some pooling resources to share panels. Experts warn that without better governance and monitoring, groundwater depletion could threaten Pakistan’s agriculture and food security.
Houthi attacks target Riyadh amid concerns over Saudi oil supplies, as Iran says it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until its conditions are m...
German voters cast ballots on Sunday in two state elections that could add to the political pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as his governmen...
Iraq has returned restricted airspace across the western part of the country to civilian authorities, ending limits imposed for military operations...
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said a Togo-flagged oil tanker was struck while attempting to make an “illegal passage” through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media said early on Friday.
Saudi civil defence sent an all-clear on Saturday after issuing alerts for a second time for potential danger in Riyadh and the city of Al-Kharj east of the capital, amid an uptick in attacks by Iran-aligned Houthis on the Gulf country.
The European Union will disburse €3.3 billion ($3.8 billion) to Ukraine for missiles and drones, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The U.S. State Department approved a $2.7 billion military sale to Ukraine for air-defence development upgrades, along with related equipment and services, the department said. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported at least 10 people had died in Russian attacks over the last 24 hours.
Houthi attacks target Riyadh amid concerns over Saudi oil supplies, as Iran says it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until its conditions are met and U.S. commitments are implemented, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday.
German voters cast ballots on Sunday in two state elections that could add to the political pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as his government faces growing public frustration and a resurgent far right.
Iraq has returned restricted airspace across the western part of the country to civilian authorities, ending limits imposed for military operations against Islamic State since 2016, the Transport Ministry said.
Denmark and Greenland have moved to reassure the public that their sovereignty will remain intact under a new security agreement with the United States.
World leaders are set to gather at the United Nations General Assembly in New York for several days of high-level debate, with Iran, Ukraine, artificial intelligence (AI) and a range of global crises expected to dominate discussions this week.
Ed Sheeran has broken his silence on the controversy surrounding his U.S. tour, apologising for decisions made after rapper Macklemore was removed from the line-up over his public support for Palestine.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment