Sixty farmers in Rudauli block are cultivating successfully with the help of solar energy. Under the KUSUM Scheme, solar pumps provided with subsidies have reduced the cost of irrigation and increased income.
Farmers have now been freed from power cuts, and diesel consumption has also reduced. Over the past three financial years, farmers’ interest in solar pumps has grown. With this, farming costs will go down, and profits will automatically rise.
The Uttar Pradesh government, in collaboration with the central government, is working with the objective of doubling farmers’ income. Under the KUSUM scheme, solar pumps are being provided to operate pumps through solar plants. To give farmers relief from the electricity crisis, the government is now also connecting their private tube wells with solar plants.
Farmers are receiving subsidised solar plants for pumps ranging from 2 HP to 3 HP AC & DC, and 5 HP to 10 HP AC tube wells.
The KUSUM scheme was launched in the financial year 2016–17. In 2023–24 and 2024–25, a total of 60 farmers benefited from solar pumps. For this, 70 farmers had applied online. Assistant Agriculture Development Officer Chandrasen and Rudauli Sub-Agriculture Office in-charge Anil Gond informed that solar pumps are helping farmers reduce costs and increase income.
Now, farmers are more eager to install solar pumps under the scheme. This year’s target has not yet been achieved, but in the last two years, farmers have benefited greatly. As a result, fundamental changes are taking place in farmers’ lives – incomes are rising while expenses are falling.
What is the KUSUM Scheme?
The KUSUM Scheme (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan) provides financial assistance to farmers for:
- Running agricultural pumps using solar energy,
- Setting up grid-connected solar plants, and
- Selling surplus solar power to increase income.
Its aim is to make the agriculture sector diesel-free, provide financial and water security to farmers, and reduce carbon emissions.
The scheme has three main components:
- Component A: Ground-mounted grid-connected solar plants
- Component B: Standalone solar agricultural pumps
- Component C: Solarization of grid-connected pumps
