Punjab farmers face last chance as solar registration scheme deadline arrives

On January 6, 2025, the Punjab government in Pakistan faced a deadline for applications under its solarisation plan aimed at converting tube wells to solar energy. With over 450,000 applications submitted, there are significant concerns from various stakeholders about the scheme. In the first phase, the government plans to subsidize 8,000 tube wells, with an additional 10,000 to follow in the second phase, which will involve federal assistance. The provincial government will cover about 67% of the costs, while farmers are responsible for the remaining portion. Critics of the plan argue that the project is rushed and lacks proper eligibility criteria, which has led to confusion among applicants. This haste has raised concerns regarding the long-term impact of the initiative, particularly in relation to groundwater management. They suggest that instead of alleviating climate change effects, it may exacerbate the issue by depleting aquifers further. Farmers in Punjab already extract significant amounts of groundwater, and introducing solar energy solutions may not address the underlying problems related to water management. Advocates for the solarisation plan highlight the deteriorating socio-economic conditions of rural areas, stating that the initiative could provide short-term relief. However, opposition remains substantial. Critics argue that linking solar energy use to existing issues does not mitigate the risk of resource depletion. Already, a significant number of farmers in Punjab have independently migrated to solar energy for their tube wells, suggesting a grassroots trend that the government is now attempting to formalize. Experts call for a more comprehensive water management strategy that considers the implications of switching to solar power without first addressing existing groundwater depletion. They emphasize the need for detailed assessments of both the tube well size suitable for solar energy and the aquifer levels across various regions. As the government pushes ahead with the solarisation plan, conversations about the sustainability of water resources and effective management practices will continue to shape the discourse surrounding agricultural practices in Punjab.