At the moment, many rural areas are not connected to the national power grid which is problematic for farmers. To irrigate their lands they need energy and to achieve this the majority have turned to diesel powered pumps and generators.
In India diesel is readily available and until recent times, it was relatively cheap; however, with rising prices it is becomingincreasingly expensive and farmers are feeling the pinch. Currently there are no unsubsidized pumps available that are within the acceptable price range for farmers. Prices for a solar-powered pump are 10 times the price of a diesel pump diesel pumps and in the short-term diesel pumps simply remain more cost-effective.
With each passing year farmers are spending more of their profits on diesel to keep their farms irrigated. This is an unsustainable model which must be replaced sooner rather than later.
“Through this challenge we aim to develop a renewable energy irrigation solution which is not only sustainable but also economically viable,” said Manish Ram, Energy campaigner with Greenpeace India. “The challenge being global will give an opportunity to the participants to share their ideas and discuss them with people across the world.”
Not only would it wean farmers away from depending on the diesel generators, removing them from the equation would have benefits for their health and for the environment. Diesel emissions contain harmful chemicals and particulate matter which can lead to long-term health problems or early death. Air pollution is one of the biggest killers in India and this could besignificantly reduced by replacing the diesel pumps. The emissions also contribute to global warming and unpleasant physical conditions such as smog and acid rain. According to Greenpeace there are around 10 million diesel-powered pumps in operation. Replacing them with sustainable, environmentally friendly models would be a massive step in reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality.
The challenge runs for 10 weeks and submissions can be submitted until November 15th 2013. It is an excellent chance for participants to gain experience working with innovators and experts around the world and contribute to a growing industry.
There is a monetary reward of €30,000 or Rs. 26 lakhs for the winner, which will help the innovator transform their idea to a business reality, but Greenpeace have highlighted that simply taking part in this competition is a reward in itself.
“This competition isn’t just about winning,” said Ingo Boltz, manager of the Greenpeace Innovation Lab.
“The entire process is transparent. As soon as a design is submitted it’s open to the public and other entrants to review. Participants get feedback from experts in the field and the opportunity to iterate on their design in a real-world scenario, a valuable experience in addition to the prize money and a chance to work with Greenpeace and its partners to prototype their concept in farmer’s fields in India.”
To take part in this exciting new endeavour, simply click here.
Author: Stephen Walsh RESET/ Editorial
