22 February 2022, Chandigarh: The state of Haryana has witnessed a significant growth in agriculture over the past few years. As the state is being proudly known as the ‘Bread basket of India’, it has been in the forefront in terms of the adoption of latest technologies and practices in agriculture and is also counted as one of the leading states for agriculture production in the country. Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Sh Manohar Lal, the state government is consistently encouraging farmers to adopt latest farm technology to increase the farm sector output. To bring solar energy in the field of agriculture, the Energy Department and New & Renewable Energy Department have set new dimensions in the field of electricity and renewable energy.
Following the same path, Haryana Government has done commendable work in channelizing solar energy in the field of agriculture. Haryana now becomes the second state in the country after Gujarat which has promoted solar energy with the operation of solar water pumps in promotion of micro irrigation under the Pradhan MantriKisanUrja Suraksha UtthanMahabhiyan(PMKUSUM). There is about 80 lakh acres of cultivable land in the state out of which, 75 percent area is irrigated. The rest of the land has to depend on rain for irrigation. By installing solar pumps, diesel will be saved for the farmers and income will also increase.
All about the PM KusumYojana in Haryana
The government (Centre+State) is giving 75 percent subsidy on solar pumps and farmers have to spend only 25 percent of the amount. There was a very little work done in the field of solar energy in the state and only 492 solar pumps were installed until 2014. The present government took it seriously and prepared a roadmap to promote solar energy in Haryana. In its first phase, a target of installing 50,000 solar pump sets has been set and in the last 7 years, 25,897 solar pump sets have been installed. Haryana Government has set a target for the year 2021-22 to provide 22,000 solar tube well connections, out of which 15, 000 connections have been provided so far and the remaining 7, 000 connections will be provided by March 2022.
Apply online
The farmers who wish to install solar water pumping systems shall have to apply online through http://saralharyana.gov.in/ portal. No hard copy of the application is entertained by the Department/HAREDA.
Farmers reaping the profits
One inspiring story is of Ms. Sumitra Devi, who is a beneficiary of PM Kusum scheme. By availing the benefits of this scheme, Sumitra Devi has not only increased the crop production, but is also setting an example for many other farmers in the state. Sumitra Devi hails from Mahendragarh district and has got a 10 HP Solar pump installed for irrigation of a five acre land in Bhagadhana village. And now, she uses it for the cultivation of various crops such as millets, pulses etc.
For installing the solar pump commissioned under component-‘B’ of PM-Kusum, the Haryana Government has provided 45 percent subsidy while the centre government contributed 30 percent of the it. The rest 25 percent was borne by the beneficiary Sumitra Devi herself. While sharing her story, Sumitra Devi says, “As the running cost of diesel pump is very high, I used to cultivate only one crop. Then I got to know about the PM-Kusum scheme, through which the centre and state governments are providing 75 percent subsidy to install the solar pumps. I applied for it and got a 10 AC HP submersible pump installed in my farm.”
“Now I can cultivate more than one crops and irrigate the fields in the daytime. Besides, there is no cost of running it and the maintenance cost of the solar pump is negligible. I am very satisfied with the installation of the pump,” Sumitra Devi shares cheerfully.
PM Kusum scheme benefits
Provides risk-free income for farmers
Ability to check groundwater overexploitation
Provides uninterrupted power supply to farmers
Helps in the reduction of carbon footprint in agriculture
Reduces farmer’s burden of farm power subsidy
Three Components of PM-KUSUM Yojana
Component A
Component B
Component C
10,000 MW of Decentralized Ground Mounted Grid Connected Renewable Power Plants of individual plant size up to 2 MW.
Installation of 17.50 lakh standalone Solar Powered Agriculture Pumps of individual pump capacity up to 7.5 HP.
Solarisation of 10 Lakh Grid-connected Agriculture Pumps of individual pump capacity up to 7.5 HP.
