The use of solar pumps for irrigation will undoubtedly help farmers but the reality of depleting ground water resources must not be forgotten (“Towards solar powered agriculture”, January 19). Electricity supply in some measure helps us control, and even estimate in many cases, the amount of water pumped. An induced push towards the use of solar pumps would have to consider unintended consequences such as indiscriminate use of water irrespective of crop water requirement. Their use has to be context-specific depending on the head required, seasonality, etc. With effects of climate change looming large over the horizon, any intervention in agriculture has to be holistic.
Afsal Najeeb,
Perinad, Kollam, Kerala
