Challenges of the Scheme
- The availability of different mechanical equipment needed for this scheme is a very big challenge for the government.
- Another challenge is depleting groundwater level because if groundwater level depletes then we have to increase the power of pumps and for this, we have to install new solar panels which are very expensive.
- In this scheme main focus is on pumps of a capacity of 3 HP or higher but India has a very large number of small farmers and for them, this will not be much beneficial.
Kusum Scheme
In the budget of 2018-19 Ministry of New and Renewable Energy announced a new scheme for farmers of the country, named Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha and Utthaan Mahabhiyan commonly known as the PM-KUSUM scheme. This scheme focuses on the decentralized solar power plant for the production of electricity which will help the farmers. The final approval for this scheme was given on 8th March 2019.
Under this scheme, individual farmers/groups of farmers/panchayats/cooperatives/Water User Association/Farmer Producer Association can set up small renewable energy-based power plants on their barren or cultivated lands.