Gandhinagar: Amid the water shortage in the state due to the delayed onset of the monsoon, the state government has given a major relief to farmers. Now, instead of the regular 8 hours, power supply will be provided to agricultural feeders for 10 hours to help save farmers’ crops.

Farmers have been facing difficulties after sowing kharif crops due to the lack of rainfall. Soil moisture is decreasing, and there is a shortage of sufficient water for irrigation as water levels in wells and borewells continue to decline. In this situation, farmers and various farmer organizations had demanded that the government increase the duration of power supply.

In response, the Energy and Petrochemicals Department has decided to provide 10 hours of power to agricultural feeders every day. A circular has been issued in this regard, and agencies including GUVNL, GETCO and SLDC have been instructed to implement the decision immediately.

This special arrangement will remain in force for the next one month. The additional power supply will greatly benefit water-intensive crops such as paddy, sugarcane, banana and papaya. Farmers will be able to irrigate their fields more effectively through borewells and electric pumps. DeshGujarat