Govt to provide 2.75 million solar pumps to farmers under KUSUM scheme

The government will provide 2.75 million solar pumps to farmers under the first phase of the Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahaabhiyan (KUSUM) scheme, to be launched by July 2018.

Under the Rs 48,000 crore scheme, 1.75 million solar pumps will be installed where the grid has not reached and 1 million solar pumps where the grid is available. "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 said at a media interaction highlighting the Modi government’s achievements of the past 4 years.

The government is also planning to provide 10 Gigawat of Solar Power Plants of intermediate capacity of 0.5–2 Mw and 50,000 grid-connected tube wells for irrigation and drinking water projects.

The scheme aims to ensure installation of grid-connected solar power plants of up to 2 MW capcity each in the rural areas; installation of standalone off-grid solar water 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 incentivise farmers to run solar farm water pumps and use 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.