Benefits of Solar Energy for Rural Areas

Rural lighting and electrification has been the goal of any government, in an effort to improve the level of economic productivity and living standards of the people in the rural areas. In an effort to improve his economic statue and living standards of his family, Olman a farmer in Atlantida, Honduras, seeks to get a loan in the form of a solar home system from Soluz Honduras through KIVA. Olman seeks a loan for the purchase of the solar home system to increase output from his cattle in terms of milk production and plants in terms of storage and irrigation.

In references to this, Olman will be able to repay the loan from the increased levels of profits to be experienced from the presence of a constant form of renewable energy. He is a perfect beneficiary of the initiative embarked on of electrification of the rural areas. Atlantida in Honduras is characterized by a climatic condition that fosters days with long hours of the hot sun and short rainy seasons.

This makes rural subsistence farming to become hectic and uneconomic as there is little rain to support the crops and the hot suns easily dries the soil. With the presence of a solar home system, the farmer can be able to easily capture the benefits of the hot sun by having a constant source of renewable energy and use the energy to pump and irrigate plants from the rivers that are not seasonal. The energy can also be used to assist in rearing of the animals that will provide a constant source of protein for the family and increase the income earned from their sale.

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The solar panel will be used to lighten the home and decrease the chances of attacks by cattle rustlers and thieves. The darkness in the home sometimes acts as an advantage to criminals who may seek to steal from the families in Atlantida. This will improve the level of security in the rural areas, especially when the solar panels have been installed by several families. The prevalence in crime will be curbed and reduced. There will also be an increased in the number of economic activities that the residents will be engaged in as there will be less crime. Currently the residents of Atlantida use kerosene lamps and candles which pose a peril to their health and their homesteads. The inhalation of the smoke produced by the aforementioned affects the gaseous exchange system of an individual and could increase the prevalence of pulmonary diseases. Additionally, using lamps at night strains the eyes and could lead to eyesight problems in old age. The lamps also can easily ignite and cause fires as they contain a highly flammable fluid. Carbon monoxide from smoke contributes to 18% of the number of gases that erode the ozone layer; a reduction in the amount of smoke released from the homesteads will go a long way in reducing the effects of global warming and ensuring environmental conservation. Honduras has been increasing in the amount of smoke produced in 2004 the country produced0.0007% of the global smoke produced, in 2013 it produced 0.0013 almost double. In an effort to reduce the level of smoke produced like its counterpart Sweden, the country should majorly invest in the use of renewable energy sources that are clean, safe and healthy. Some of the residents of Atlantida are not aware of the initiative by KIVA in conjunction with Soluz Honduras, to aid in lighting up their homes and providing a source of renewable energy. If Olman could have the loan advanced to him and the panel installed, he could be used to create awareness on the benefits of the solar home system to members of his village. More people would apply for it and the benefit would become mutual as the panel company would increase their sales of solar home systems and the residents would improve their living conditions.

The solar home system initiative by KIVA is a legit activity that can be trusted by the residents of Antlantida as they have been installing the systems country wide and offering a 25 year warranty of the products. From 2008 and 2012 the company Soluz Honduras installed over 2500 sun-panels which have given 5,000 families electricity. It is a practical and reliable endeavor.

In conclusion, Olman would be a perfect candidate to receive the loan for purchase of a solar home system as the benefits will fall not only on his family and economic activities. The entire society stands a chance to benefit as well as the companies providing the system.