PM Kusum Scheme

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) Yojana launched in March 2019 by the Government of India to increase the income of farmers and provide sources for irrigation and de-dieselization the agricultural sector. To receive the benefit of this scheme farmers need to install solar irrigation pumps for cultivation. Under this scheme the govt of India will provide 60% subsidy on the total cost of solar irrigation installed pumps to the farmer.

Objective

 * To decrease dependence on Diesel for irrigation.
 * To reduce cost of irrigation by use of solar pumps
 * Water and energy security in agriculture for farmers.
 * To reduce pollution.

The PM-KUSUM scheme of the Government of India is one of the largest initiatives in the world to provide clean energy to more than 3.5 million farmers by solarizing their agriculture pumps and allowing farmers to up 10 GW distributed solar projects. The scheme plans to set up 30.8 GW of solar capacity by December 31, 2022, through the financial assistance of INR 340.35 billion (US$4.65 billion). The scheme is divided into three components:


 * Component A: install grid-connected ground-mounted solar power plants (up to 2 MW) aggregating to a total capacity of 10 GW
 * Component B: install 1.75 million standalone solar pumps
 * Component C: solarize 1 million grid-connected agricultural pumps

All components of the KUSUM Scheme combined would support the installation of the additional solar capacity of 30.80 GW.

Under Kusum Yojana, a group of farmers, panchayats, and cooperatives can apply to install solar pumps. The total cost included in this scheme is divided into three categories in which the government will help the farmers. The government will provide a 60% subsidy to the farmers, and 30% of the cost will be given by the government in the form of a loan. Farmers will only have to pay 10% of the total cost of the project. Farmers can sell electricity generated from solar panels. The money received after selling electricity can be used to start a new business.