Features of PM-KUSUM
- Initially, 1.75 million off-grid agricultural solar pumps will be distributed by the government.
On unused land, 10000 Mega Watt solar power plants will be built. - The extra solar energy generated by the farmers on arid lands will be purchased by the state electricity distribution firms or DISCOMS. DISCOMS will receive incentives to purchase this electricity.
- The government will convert its existing pumps and tube wells to solar power.
- Solar pumps subsidized at 60% for farmers. Direct deposits will be made to their bank accounts. The central and state governments will split this subsidy. A bank loan will be used to cover 30% of the cost. Only the remaining 10% will therefore need to be covered by the farmers.
- One of the biggest projects in the world, the PM-KUSUM scheme solarizes agriculture pumps under components B and C to supply renewable energy to more than 35 lakh farmers.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM)
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 Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan commonly known as the PM-KUSUM scheme. This scheme focuses on the decentralized solar power plant for the production of electricity, it will also help our 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, and farmer producer associations can set up small renewable energy-based power plants on their barren or cultivated lands.