Sustainable Irrigation: A Shift From Conventional to Solar Tube-Wells

This study examines the factors influencing the adoption of solar tube well technology for groundwater extraction in the agriculture sector, focusing on the Balochistan region of Pakistan. Water scarcity is a major challenge in this region due to declining groundwater level and unreliable power supplies. The study uses a binary logit regression model to analyze the factors that determine the adoption of solar tube wells by farmers. The study took into account variables such as age, education level of household head and access to credit, farmers' perception of groundwater depletion, number of hours of tube well operation, and cost of adopting solar technology. The results indicate that education level and experience positively influence farmers' ability to use solar tube wells. Education provides farmers with the knowledge to understand modern farming methods and the benefits of solar technology. In addition, the cost-effectiveness and increased operating hours of solar tube wells contribute significantly to their adoption. Farmers' concerns about greater groundwater depletion also influenced their decisions, with those seeing groundwater decline more likely to adopt solar technology. The results also suggest that policies that promote access to credit and reduce the initial cost of solar tube well adoption can further encourage farmer's adoption decision.