Which State Has Benefited Most From PMKUSUM’s Solar Pumps?

Which States Has The Highest No. Of Under Solar Pump Users?

The Government launched the PM-KUSUM scheme in March 2019, which was scaled up in January 2024 to include standalone solar agricultural pumps. This scheme aims to provide energy and water security to farmers, enhance their income, reduce diesel usage in the farm sector, and decrease environmental pollution.

Union Minister of State (MoS) for New and Renewable Energy and Power Shripad Yesso Naik recently informed Parliament that, as of June 30, 2024, 4,11,222 farmers have benefited from the PM-KUSUM scheme. According to the latest data shared by the minister, the top five states leading in solar pump installation under Component – B, based on their installations are Maharashtra (119,306), Haryana (102,973), Rajasthan (72,603), Uttar Pradesh (46,743), and Jharkhand (15,051).

In a written reply to the parliament, the minister provided detailed data on the scheme’s components. As per the shared data, PM-KUSUM has seen supporting maximum beneficiaries with the installation of 397,437 standalone solar pumps under Component B, with Component C and Component A having extended support to 13,562 and 223 beneficiaries, respectively. Component B seeks to support the replacement of standalone diesel gensets with solar pumps, and is the only off-grid part of PMKUSUM.

To promote solarization on farmland, the government provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of 30% (or 50% for the Northeastern Region, Hilly Regions, and Islands) for these pumps.

The scheme also includes provisions for individual pump solarization (IPS) and feeder-level solarization (FLS) of agricultural loads. 

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A recent report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) titled Implementation Challenges of the PM KUSUM Scheme: Case Studies from Selected Indian States has thrown more light on the challenges. 

The CSE report found farmers who have opted for solar water pumps are satisfied as it has enabled them to irrigate their fields during the day. Additionally, the report recommended the following measures to accelerate the implementation of the PM KUSUM scheme in the coming years:

Decentralisation: A decentralised implementation model is needed. Implementing agencies with on-ground knowledge of farmer demographics and needs are able to cater to farmers’ needs more effectively.

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Financial viability: Farmers should get the option to pay upfront costs in installments in order to make the scheme financially more viable for them.

Increase in Central financial assistance: This assistance could be hiked, subject to different states’ needs or prices of solar modules. Prices of modules after Covid-19 increased, leading to a rise in upfront costs to be paid by farmers as well.