J&K Farmers Can Now Avail Benefits of PM KUSUM

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM), a scheme for the upliftment of farmers in the country, has been sanctioned by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

Subsidized solar-powered agriculture pumps with capacities ranging from 2 HP to 10 HP would be installed around the country under the scheme. The scheme will provide a 50 percent subsidy from the Central Government, a 30 percent subsidy from the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, and rest 20 percent is to be borne by farmers.

The Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA), Department of Science and Technology, will operate the scheme in J&K.

JAKEDA had invited the Secretary J&K Advisory Board for Development of Kisans, its board members from Kashmir Division, and other progressive farmers to the office for an interactive session with Chief Executive Officer, JAKEDA, as part of the preparatory activities such as beneficiary identification and farmer sensitization.

With the commencement of the scheme, the 20 million grid-connected agriculture water pumps installed in the country, which consume more than 17 % of the country's total annual electricity consumption, might be solarized.

It would also lessen these pumps' dependency on conventional energy sources supplied by DISCOMs, decreasing their subsidy load on agricultural electricity use. This will also give farmers with an extra source of revenue, since they will be able to sell excess electricity to DISCOMs.

About PM-KUSUM Scheme:

The Government of India introduced the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) Yojana to boost farmer income and offer sources for irrigation and de-dieselization of the agricultural sector.

The PM-Kusum plan was approved administratively in March 2019, and rules were developed in July 2019. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) initiated the project to install solar pumps and other new power plants across the country.