How Micro-Solar Solutions Help Sri Lankan Farmers to Sustainably Keep up with the Food Needs of a Growing Population

Farmers, especially paddy farmers, have been the backbone of the Sri Lankan economy for centuries. For example, 5,037 million metric tonnes of rice were produced in the year 2020, according to the Department of Census & Statistics and the Department of Agriculture. The resilience and hard work of farmers ensure a steady supply of nutritious food and raw materials for various industries, supporting both rural livelihoods and the overall economic growth of the country.

However, recent climatic changes have challenged the local farmers. With a growing population, the demand for food has only increased. The rapidly changing climate has called for new practices to be adopted to ensure adequate production of food is maintained for the population. For example, warmer climates as a result of global warming have made it significantly difficult to cultivate rice, as rice is a largely temperature sensitive plant to grow successfully.

How can local farmers stay true to their core of sustainable farming amidst these rising demands and an ever warming climate?

Localised micro solar power solutions may be the answer. There has been a recent pique in interest towards a collaboration between solar power plants and agricultural lands called ‘agrivoltaic plants’.

Agrivoltaic systems increase the efficiency of both solar energy harvesting equipment used as well as help create an agricultural land where the farmer has more control over the conditions the crops are subjected to. The perspiration from the agricultural plants prevents overheating of the photovoltaic panels, which increases the efficiency and lifetime of the panels. The installation of photovoltaic panels in farmlands also comes with significant benefits to the crops, with reduced radiation stress, improved microclimatic conditions, and increased soil moisture through shading and evapotranspiration from plants, according to Living Architecture Monitor.

In addition to agrivoltaic systems, accessibility to small-scale renewable energy can help local farms stay sustainable, be resilient against climate change, and contribute to significant rural development. Studies show that small-scale solar PV systems can significantly improve the livelihood of rural farmers in developing countries like Sri Lanka by providing access to clean energy for irrigation, lighting, and other essential needs. This can reduce reliance on fossil fuels, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and empower farmers to become more self-sufficient.

Windforce is pushing for all the positive changes mentioned above by working on not just large scale solar energy systems but also small scale solar energy systems for rural areas. Our first step towards micro solar solutions was kept in 2022 with the Solar Universe agrivoltaic plant. Seeing local rural farms thrive is their utmost priority