Under KUSUM Scheme, Govt. to Provide 2.75 Million Solar Pumps to Farmers

“Initially the solar-pumps will be distributed as per the demand from each region but at the later stage, if required, we will provide more pumps,” power minister R K Singh.

Under the first phase of Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahaabhiyan (KUSUM) scheme that is to be launched by July 2018, the government will provide 2.75 million solar pumps to farmers in different parts of the country.

The solar pumps will be distributed between the areas where the grid has not reached and where there is an availability of grid. 1.75 million solar pumps will be installed in the areas where there is no grid and around 1 million at the places where the grids are available. The total worth of the scheme is Rs 48,000.

“Initially the solar pumps will be distributed as per the demand from each region but at the later stage, if required, we will provide more pumps,” power minister R K Singh.

Also, the plans are to provide 10 GW of Solar Power Plants with an intermediate capacity of 0.5–2 Mw and 50,000 grid-connected tube wells used for drinking water projects and irrigation.

The scheme aims to ensure installation of grid-connected solar power plants of up to 2 MW capacity each in the rural areas; installation of standalone off-grid solar pumps to fulfil irrigation needs of farmers not connected to the grid; solarization of existing grid-connected agriculture pumps to make farmers independent of grid supply and also enable them to sell surplus solar power generated to DISCOMS and get extra income; and solarization of tube wells and lift irrigation projects.

Under the scheme, the government plans to incentivize farmers to run solar farm water pumps and use the barren land for generating power for extra income of up to Rs 60,000 per acre every year. At present, farmers earn about Rs 30,000 per acre annually from conventional wheat and paddy rotation, after deducting input costs.

Source: ET