KUSUM Scheme seeks to incentivise the farmers to set up solar powered plants in their fields so as to enable them to meet their energy needs and supplement their farm incomes. The idea is enable "Annadata" to become "Urjadata".
3 COMPONENTS
- Setting up of 10,000 MW of Grid-Connected Solar and Other Renewable energy plants on Barren/Uncultivable land)-> Sell Power to DISCOMs and earn Income.
- Off-Grid Areas: Replacement of diesel agriculture pump sets with 20 lakh Solar Agriculture Pumps-> Reduce the dependence of farmers on diesel and meet their irrigation needs.
- Grid-connected Areas: Replacement of diesel agriculture pump sets with 15 lakh Solar Agriculture Pumps-> Use the generated solar power to meet the irrigation needs and the excess solar power will be sold to DISCOMs.
BENEFITS
- Environmental Benefit: Saving of about 27 million tonnes of CO2 emission per annum.
- Economic Benefit: Reduce financial burden on DISCOMs; Promote Renewable Energy; Reduce import of Crude Oil and improve Trade Deficit.
- Social Benefit: Supplement Farm Income; Generate Self-Employment; Empowerment of Farmers.
HOW TO IMPROVE THE DESIGN OF THE PROGRAMME?
- Reducing Inter-state Disparity: Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan together account for half of two lakh solar pumps currently deployed in the country; Target linked financial assistance to reduce the disparities.
- Reducing Intra-state Disparity: Share of central financial assistance should be appropriated for small and marginal farmers/Women farmers.
- Give up One Size Fits-all approach: Small and marginal farmers should be given a higher capital subsidy and long-term loans with interest subsidies.
- Focus on Efficiency of Pumps: Solarizing grid connected pumps must include replacement of the pump with more energy efficient newer age pumps.
- Focus on Post-harvest losses: Use solar power for post-harvesting processes to promote local value addition and enhanced income levels.