The Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) was announced by the Central Government, with the goal of increasing solar power output in India while also providing farmers with the benefits of solar farming. The Union Budget 2018-19 has allotted a total of Rs. 48000 crores for this initiative over the next ten years. In March 2021, the Central Government modified an existing PM-KUSUM scheme component — a farmer income support and a de-dieselisation scheme — to focus on solarising agricultural feeders rather than pumps.
Features
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is in charge of implementing the Kusum Scheme. The government initially distributed 1.75 million off-grid farm solar pumps. 10000 MegaWatt solar power plants were built on unused land. The surplus solar energy generated by farmers in arid areas was purchased by state electricity distribution companies, or DISCOMS. These DISCOMS are compensated for purchasing this energy.
The government is converting its existing pumps and tube wells to solar power. The goal is to irrigate the field using solar power, with farmers receiving 60% of the cost subsidized. This funding will be split between the federal government and the states. 30% of the cost will be covered by a bank loan.
Benefits of PM- KUSUM
• It will make it possible for solar energy generation to become more decentralized.
• The transmission issues in the DISCOMS services will be checked.
• The burden of subsidies on DISCOMS in the agricultural industry will be significantly reduced.
• Farmers will now have the opportunity to resell any excess energy produced by the solar plants installed on their arid fields to the grid.
• It will give India’s developing green economy a boost.
• The scheme can create immediate employment. It is estimated that each MW of small-capacity solar installation generates about 24.50 job years. Therefore, the
program is likely to increase both self-employment and employment possibilities totaling 7.55 lakh job years for both skilled and unskilled workers.
• Other benefits that will accrue to the farmers due to the implementation of this program include conservation of water, water security as well as energy efficiency.
