Sanjeet Bahadur Singh will be saving up to $500 worth of fuel a month after he switched from using a diesel generated water pump to solar.
The 52-year-old farmer of Macuata in Vanua Levu will now be using his solar pump to water his 70 acre agricultural land at Navudi, Seaqaqa.
He plants yaqona, cassava, dalo, pineapple, watermelon, yams and vudi.
“I spent almost $10,000 to hire a private contractor from Ba to dig a borehole and install the water pump,” Mr Singh said.
“In a month I would spend $500 in buying fuel to make the generator work.”
The father-of-two children heard about Dawn Renewable Energy Fiji Pte Limited which opened in Labasa around May this year.
He spent another $10,000 for installation of solar panels.
Mr Singh worked as a bus driver for about 20 years. Five years ago he returned to his father’s land to do farming.
His next project is to seek assistance from the Government to have road access and electricity in Navudi.
Meanwhile, Dawn Renewable Energy Fiji Pte Limited Northern Division manager Mary Rose Wye-Qiqi said such a set up could help reduce climate change.
“Mr Singh is our first farmer customer and we hope others will join in our effort to reduce climate change.”
They have two qualified technicians who do the set up in just one day.
Story by: Shratika Naidu
Feedback: shratikan@fijisun.com