The Government of India launched the KUSUM Scheme or Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Surakshaevam Utthaan Mahabhiyan Yojana in March 2019. This scheme was announced by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), aiming for growth in income for Indian farmers. 

The scheme aims to help farmers improve energy security and environmental sustainability by shifting from conventional power sources to renewable energy. Keep reading to learn how this scheme works to maintain a sustainable lifestyle.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan Yojana is a scheme to subsidise farmers installing solar irrigation pumps for cultivation. The focus is on solarising agricultural pumps, installing solar power plants on farmers' land, and integrating renewable energy into agriculture. 

Under this scheme, financial incentives are provided for installing solar-powered irrigation systems. This helps to reduce farmers' dependency on diesel and decrease energy expenses. Further, the scheme promotes establishing grid-connected solar plants that allow farmers to sell excess power. The scheme seeks to improve energy security and income for farmers through the promotion of sustainable practices.

Each farmer will receive a 60% subsidy to set up tube wells and pump sets. They will also get 30% of the total cost as a loan from the Government.

The primary objective of the PM KUSUM Scheme is to make cutting-edge technology available to our farmers and provide sources for de-dieselised irrigation to the agricultural sector. The main objectives of this scheme are:

• Solar pumps assist our farmers with much more effective and eco-friendly irrigation as they can generate safer energy.

• In addition, the pump sets comprise an energy power grid that generates more energy than diesel-driven pumps. Farmers can directly sell the extra power to our Government to enhance their income.

• Promote using renewable energy in the agriculture sector to reduce carbon emissions.

• Support sustainable agriculture practices by integrating green energy solutions.

• Focus on promoting renewable energy, i.e., solar energy in agriculture.

• Rural farmers are encouraged to generate power under this program to have a reliable and affordable source of electricity.

• This scheme will reduce greenhouse gas emissions if diesel-powered irrigation systems are replaced with solar ones.

• Solar pumps are less costly than diesel pumps when considering operational and maintenance costs, helping farmers reduce their input costs and improve their profit margins.

• This scheme helps preserve water supplies by promoting water-saving practices and encouraging the adoption of solar-powered pump-driven efficient irrigation techniques.

KUSUM Scheme comprises 3 components which have different features:

• Component A: Install 10GV grid-connected stilt-mounted decentralised solar plants and other renewable energy-based power plants. Each plant is sized up to 500 KW to 2 MV, facilitating large-scale solar energy production to meet the needs of farmers and surrounding communities.

• Component B: Install stand-alone solar pumps of up to 7.5HP individual capacity worth 17.50 lakh. These pumps enable farmers to irrigate their fields efficiently, reducing electricity costs and dependence on conventional power sources.

• Component C: Provide financial support to Solaris 10 lakh grid-connected agricultural pumps of 7.5HP capacity each. This initiative helps farmers enhance irrigation capabilities and contributes to the overall sustainability of agricultural practices by promoting the use of renewable energy sources.

By integrating these components, the KUSUM Scheme aims to empower farmers, increase their income potential, and promote a shift towards sustainable farming practices across India.

Some eligible categories that can take advantage of the PM KUSUM Scheme aim to promote the adoption of solar energy in the agricultural sector. The eligible categories for the KUSUM Scheme are:

An Individual Farmer

Individual farmers who own agricultural land are also eligible to participate in this scheme. That means they either rent it out to solar project developers or use their lands to install this facility.

A Group of Farmers

Under this arrangement, groups of farmers may install PV systems within shared premises or on single plots in some cases. This way, they can pool their resources and maximise benefits.

FPO or Farmer Producer Organisation

FPOs can also establish PV power plants on lands owned by or leased from the company; thus, farm work can be enhanced using generated electricity while excess power is sold to the grid.

Panchayat

Panchayats can put up solar projects on common or government land. With the help of this action, they can generate a form of secure energy and income for society. 

Co-operatives

The scheme can assist agricultural co-operatives that members own to have solar systems that their members can use. This helps to bring down electricity prices and increase the financial sustainability of these cooperatives.

While applying for the PM KUSUM Scheme, the vendor must carry and present specific documents: 

• Aadhar card

• A land document, including KhasraKhatauni

• A bank account passbook

• A declaration form

• Mobile number

• Passport size photo

After a successful online application for the KUSUM Scheme, farmers must deposit 10% of the total cost to set up a solar pump to the supplier sent by the department. The solar pump set will be empowered after the subsidy amount gets sanctioned, which generally takes 90 to 10 days.

Interested individuals can apply for KUSUM Scheme by following the procedures stated below -

• Step 1: Go to the official portal and click on the registration section.
• Step 2: Fill in the registration form that appears on your screen with all the required details.
• Step 3: Check the box of declaration and click on “submit”.
• Step 4: Click "login" for Solar Agricultural Pumpset Subsidy Scheme 2021 after registering.
• Step 5: Provide all necessary information accurately in the online application form, attach all the supporting documents, and submit.

PM Kusum Yojana provides various benefits that improve the livelihood of farmers and help to promote sustainable energy practices. This scheme provides the following benefits:

• The Indian Government initiated the construction of solar plants that can generate an aggregate of 28,250 MW of power.

• The Government will subsidise 60% of the total cost and provide a loan of 30% of the total cost. This leads our farmers to bear only 10% of the total cost of installing solar plants and pumps.

• Per the details of the KUSUM Scheme, our Government will provide subsidies to install state-of-the-art solar pumps. They improve irrigation as they hold 720MV of capacity.

• This scheme allows our farmers to sell the extra power generated by the plants directly to our Government. This ensures the scope of increase in the income of our farmers.

• A landholder in a rural area can get a stable source of income by utilising barren and uncultivated land for solar plant implementation for 25 years.

• Solar plants will be set up above a minimum height on cultivable lands. This way, our farmers can continue with cultivation after installing the plants.

• KUSUM Scheme ensures increasing the use of renewable energy helps to mitigate pollution in farms and opens a gateway to eco-friendly cultivation

• It also ensures that people live in better places and clean by promoting the use of renewable sources, including diesel fuels, resulting in fewer greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants from traditional fossil fuels.

• Installing intelligent solar-powered pumps fitted with optimised control systems that help optimise water usage is one way of achieving water efficiency in irrigation practices.

• The initiative also provides training and capacity-building services for farmers and stakeholders to raise awareness about renewable energy technology (RET) and good environmental practices.