PM Kusum Yojana: Farmers are dependent on diesel and conventional electricity for their pump sets for irrigation. Therefore, with the aim of making solar power available to the food earners at affordable rates, the Central Government has launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Avam Utthana Mahabhiyan (PM-Kusum Yojana). Under this scheme, subsidy is provided for installing standalone solar pumps and converting existing grid-connected agricultural pumps to solar power. So what is Pradhan Mantri Kusum Yojana? What are its objectives? Let’s know complete information about how to get support from the government.
What is PM Kusum Yojana?
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy launched PM Kusum Yojana in March 2019 to provide subsidy to farmers who adopt solar irrigation pumps for agriculture. Each farmer will get 60 percent subsidy for installing borewells and pump sets. Farmers will get 30 percent of the total cost as loan from the government. It has 3 components. Setting up decentralized solar power plants, setting up independent solar pumps and solarizing existing grid-connected pumps. The PM-Kusum Yojana of the Government of India is also one of the world’s largest initiatives providing clean energy to over 35 lakh farmers.
PM Kusum Yojana:What are the objectives of the scheme?
Solar pumps help our farmers in more efficient and eco-friendly irrigation as they have the ability to generate safe energy. In addition, the pump sets include a fuel electric grid that generates more energy than diesel-powered pumps. Farmers will be able to sell the excess energy directly to our government to increase their income.
The Kusum scheme consists of 3 components with different features:
- Component- A:- Installation of 10,000 MW decentralized grid connected renewable energy power plants on wasteland. Under this component, renewable energy based power plants of capacity ranging from 500 kW to 2 MW can be installed on wasteland/ wasteland by individual farmers/ farmer groups/ cooperatives/ panchayats/ farmer producer organisations (FPOs)/ water user associations. These power plants can also be set up on cultivable land. Crops can be grown under solar panels there. Renewable energy power projects will be set up within 5 km of the sub-stations to avoid high cost of sub-transmission lines and to reduce transmission losses. The power generated will be purchased by the local DISCOM at a pre-fixed rate.
- Component- B:- It will install 17.50 lakh stand-alone solar agricultural pumps. Under this component, support will be provided to individual farmers to install stand-alone solar agricultural pumps of capacity up to 7.5 HP to replace existing diesel agricultural pumps/irrigation systems in off-grid areas where grid supply is not available. Pumps of capacity above 7.5 HP can also be installed. However, financial support will be limited to 7.5 HP capacity.
- Component-C:- The objective is to solarize 10 lakh grid connected agricultural pumps. Under this component, support will be provided to individual farmers having grid connected agricultural pumps for solarization of pumps. The farmers will be able to use the solar energy generated to meet their irrigation needs and the excess solar energy will be sold to DISCOMs at a pre-determined tariff.
Benefits of PM Kusum Yojana.
- Under this scheme, the government provides 60% subsidy and 30% loan of the total cost. This will enable our farmers to bear only 10% of the total cost of installing solar plants and solar pumps.
- The government provides subsidies for installing state-of-the-art solar pumps. They have a capacity of 720MV, which will improve irrigation.
- This scheme will also provide an opportunity to our farmers to sell the excess power generated by the units directly to our government. This will ensure a scope of increase in the income of our farmers.
- Landowners in rural areas can get a stable source of income by using barren and uncultivated land for implementation of solar plants for 25 years.
- Solar plants are installed at an altitude higher than the minimum elevation in agricultural land. In this way, our farmers will be able to continue farming after installing the solar plant.
• The PM Kusum Yojana ensures that increasing the use of renewable energy helps reduce pollution in agricultural land and opens a gateway to eco-friendly agriculture.
Who is eligible for PM Kusum Yojana?
- Individual farmers
- Farmers’ groups
- FPOs or Farmer Producer Organizations
- Panchayats
- Cooperative Societies
- Water User Associations
How to apply for PM Kusum Yojana?
Interested farmers can apply for KUSUM Yojana by following the procedures mentioned below.
- 1:- Visit the official portal https://pmkusum.mnre.gov.in/, click on the registration section.
- 2:- Fill the registration form that appears on your screen with all the required details.
- 3:- Check the declaration box and click on “Submit”.
- 4:- After registering, click on “Login” for Solar Agriculture Pumpset Subsidy Scheme.
- 5:- Provide all the required information accurately in the online application form, attach all the supporting documents and submit.
What are the important documents required for PM Kusum Yojana?
- Aadhar Card
- Land Records
- Bank Account Passbook
- Declaration Form
- Mobile Number
- Passport Size Photo
Progressive of PM Kusum Yojana in Karnataka.
Keying Features of PM Kusum Yojana.
- Name of the Scheme:- Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthana Mahabhiyaan (PM-KUSUM)
- Launched:- March 2019, Ministry of Renewable Energy
- Objectives: – Subsidy for solar powered irrigation pumps for food grains. Conversion from diesel/electric pumps to solar power. Increase in farmers’ income by selling surplus solar power. Promotion of eco-friendly agriculture
- Subsidy:- 60% government subsidy. 30% loan (from government) 10% cost borne by farmers
- Components of this scheme :- Component A: Installation of 10,000 MW decentralized solar power plants (500 kW – 2 MW) Component B: Installation of 17.5 lakh independent solar agricultural pumps (up to 7.5 HP) Component C: Solar electrification of 10 lakh grid-connected pumps
- Benefits :- Installation of solar pumps at low cost Improved power supply for irrigation Income from sale of surplus power. Stable income from fallow land for 25 years. Installation of solar units with agriculture Eco-friendly agriculture.
- Eligibility :- Individual farmers Farmers groups Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO) Panchayats Cooperative Societies Water User Associations
- Application submission :- Through official portal: https://pmkusum.mnre.gov.in/