PM-KUSUM Scheme: 3 Crore Farmers to Get Free Solar Pump; Can Earn Additional Rs 80000 Yearly

All necessary steps is being taken by the authorities for solarization of about 50,000 grid-connected agricultural solar pumps under the Centre's Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha and Utthan Mahabhiyan also known as PM Kusum Yojana.

PM Kusum Yojana aims to provide energy security to the farmers and is also a part of the initiative to move towards clean energy. The allocation will be equivalent to a cumulative capacity of about 240 megawatts (MW) and for this the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) will provide central assistance of about 30% per MW. It is important to note that the allocation has been made as part of Component C of PM Kusum Yojana, which plans to solarise 1 million grid-connected agricultural pumps across Andhra Pradesh.

The farmer will be able to utilize the generated solar power to meet irrigation needs and the additional solar power, (if any) will be sold to the DISCOMS at a price fixed by the State Electricity Regulatory Commission.

PM Kusum Yojana Latest Update

The Union Budget was announced on 1st February 2020 and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the government will try to double the farmer's income by 2022 and will focus on the development of the agriculture sector.

The government has decided to spend the benefit of this scheme to 20 lakh farmers for the installation of solar pumps, to increase the income of the farmer and support Announcement of several other proposals have been proposed by the Finance Minister.

PM Kusum Yojana Offers Opportunity To Earn Rs 80000

• This Solar Pump scheme is giving an opportunity to earn Rs 80000 annually.

• The government will now use the barren land to generate solar power.

• The central government needs 5 acres of land to set up a 1 MW solar plant.

• Each 1 MW capacity solar plant will generate around 11 lakh units of electricity on an annual basis.

Khushi Solar Pump Scheme

According to the Ministry of Power and New & Renewable Energy, Distribution Companies buy the electricity generated through this scheme. The power company that installs solar panels on the farmer's land will pay 30 paisa per unit to the landlord, which is approximately Rs 6600 per month. 

Details of Pradhan Mantri Solar Pump Yojana

Under PM Kusum Yojana, the Government of India is providing many benefits to the farmers of India. Farmers save the cost of petroleum fuel by installing solar irrigation pumps. Another advantage of the schemes is that farmers can sell the surplus power directly to the government. Kusum Yojana is a dual benefit scheme of the central government. Pradhan Mantri Solar Panel Yojana will provide additional income to the farmers who will install these 2 MW solar irrigation pumps.