Deciphering the attitude of farmers towards solar powered water pumping systems: Lessons from Rajasthan

This study was an attempt to analyze the attitude of farmers towards solar-powered water pumping systems. The present study was conducted in the Bikaner district of Rajasthan state, which was selected purposely. The Bikaner district consists of eight tehsils; out of these, two tehsils, namely Kolayat and Poogal, were purposely selected for the present investigation based on the highest number of solar-powered water pumping systems installed during 2013–17. Further, one gram panchayat from each selected tehsil, namely Phoolasar from Kolayat and Shivnagar from Poogal, were selected purposely based on the highest number of solar-powered water pumping systems installed. The proportionate random sampling method was used to determine the user respondents, and they were called beneficiaries of the solar-powered water pumping system because they have installed it. Further, an equal number of non-beneficiary respondents from the same gram panchayats were also selected randomly who have not installed solar-powered water pumping systems, and they were called non-beneficiary respondents. Thus, 120 respondents, i.e. 60 beneficiary and 60 non-beneficiary respondents, were selected from the selected gram panchayats for the present investigation. The study's findings revealed that most of the beneficiary, non-beneficiary and overall respondents had a neutral attitude towards solar-powered water pumping systems. In the case of beneficiary respondents, “by the use of solar technologies energy crisis can be solved” had ranked first. While, in the case of non-beneficiary and overall respondents, “use of these technologies requires more skill” had ranked first. Education, annual income, occupation, extension agency contact and mass media exposure were found to be positively and significantly associated with the attitude of respondents towards solar-powered water pumping systems.