Pune, India (CNN Business) Hundreds of millions of people in India depend on farming for their livelihoods, but widespread droughts in recent years mean they often struggle to find enough water for their fields.

Rain evaporates fast in the country's punishing summer heat , forcing farmers to rely on expensive and polluting diesel pumps to access groundwater for irrigation.

A company called Khethworks is trying to fix the problem by harnessing one of the causes — the intense sunlight that's in plentiful supply almost all year round.

Khethworks has developed a solar-powered irrigation system that allows farmers to water their crops without depending on seasonal rains or expensive fuel.

"Solar is a great fit with irrigation, because on days that plants need the most water, you get the most water out of the pump," co-founder and CEO Katie Taylor said in an interview with CNN Business.

Read More