Under the scheme, farmers, cooperative societies, farmer cooperative groups and panchayats can apply to install Solar pumps. The total cost incurred in implementing the project is so planned that the farmers financial burden is negligible. The overall cost is divide into three categories :

• Government to provide a 60% subsidy directly to farmers

• 30% will be provided through soft loans to farmers

• 10% actual cost to be incurred by farmers

There are three main Components of the KUSUM scheme :

Component A - The scheme plans to add 10000 MW of Renewable power by establishing individual renewable power plants up-to 2 MW size. These Power plants are to be decentralised, ground-mounted, and connected to the grid. These are to be set up on barren land and should come up within a 5km radius of the sub-station.

Component B - For installation of 17.50 lakh stand-alone solar agriculture pumps. Under this component, individual farmers will be supported to install standalone solar Agriculture pumps of capacity up to 7.5 Hp for replacement of existing diesel agriculture pumps/irrigation systems in off-grid areas, where grid supplied is not available. Pumps off capacity higher than 7.5 Hp can also be installed, however, the financial support will be limited to 7.5 HP capacity.

Component C - For Solarisation of 10 Lakh Grid connected Agriculture pumps. Under this Component, individual farmers having grid connected agriculture pump will be supported to solarise pumps. The farmer will be able to use the generated solar power to meet the irrigation needs and the excess solar power will be sold to DISCOMs at pre-fixed tariff.

For implementing the KUSUM Scheme, the State Nodal Agencies of MNRE will coordinate with respective States/UTs, DISCOMS, and farmers.

The scheme aims to provide stable and continuous Income to farmers or rural landowners for 25 years. It will be put to good use of the barren or uncultivated land. In the case of cultivated land, solar panels are installed at a height that doesn’t disrupt farming. While providing a regular supply of electricity during the day to agriculture land, the close vicinity of the projects to sub-stations ensures low transmission loss to DISCOMS. It will wean away farmers from using diesel another positive or win-win situation for the environment and the economy.
To increase farmer’s income and reduce their over-dependence on diesel, the Kusum Scheme was launched. The scheme puts to use the barren land in rural areas and cultivable fields for producing renewable energy. With the government’s financial assistance both state and Central, the farmer’s financial burden is kept to the minimum. The Kusum scheme can transform the rural economy for the better and improve the economic conditions of the farmers substantially

The government is encouraging to set up solar power plants with a 60% subsidy and to reward the farmers.The 30% subsidy will come from the central government and 30% will be released by the state government.
To install such a 1MW solar power plant, you must have 5acre land.If you are not a technical person, then it should be understood that to install a 1KW solar plant, at least 100Sq ft area is required.
So for 1 MW it would be 100*1000 = 100,000 Sq, because 1 MW contains 1000KW.You also need to take care of some area that is required to build a switchyard for a high capacity solar power plant.

The following termed as Renewable Power Generators (RPGs) are eligible :
• Individual farmers,
• Group of farmers,
• Water User Associations,
• Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO),
• Primary Agriculture credit Societies (PACS),
• Community/ cluster-based irrigation system

Following are eligible under Component B of the scheme: Individual farmers, Water User Associations, Farmer producer Organisations (FPO), primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS) and Community/cluster-based irrigation system will be covered under this component.

The following are eligible for individual pump solarisation :

• Individual farmers,
• Water User Associations,
• Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO),
• Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS)
• Community/cluster-based irrigation system

A Solar power system utilises photovoltaic (PV) modules to convert solar energy received from the sun into electricity.

A Solar Agriculture Pump is a type of pump which runs on solar energy and does not require any fuel (diesel, kerosene, etc) or external source of electricity to provide water for irrigation.

Individual Farmers/ group of farmers/ water user Associations/ Farmer Producer Groups/Primary Agriculture Credit Societies/ Community-Cluster based Irrigation Systems knowns as Renewable Power generators ( RPGs ) can set up Solar Power Plants.

The State Implementing Agencies and MNRE empanelled Vendors are responsible for installations of Solar Water Pumps.

Under the Individual Level Solarisation, the State Implementing Agencies and MNRe empanelled Vendors are responsible for installations of Solar Water Pumps, and for feeder level solarisation, the Power Distribution Companies (DISCOMs) are responsible for installations.

One can benefit in several ways under respective components of the scheme :

• Day time power availability to farmer

• Steady Source of Income by selling power to DISCOM at a pre- determined tariff in case of Component C- Individual Pump Solarisation and incentives against energy conservation savings in case of Component C - Feeder level polarisation & lease revenue in case farmer decide to lease land and develop solar power plant through a developer or DISCOM under Component- A

• No recurring costs of electricity or fuel as solar water pumps do not require any fuel (diesel/kerosene ) or electricity to operate

• Solar Water Pumps are easier to operate and maintain than diesel pumps

• Due to reliable access to irrigation, a farmer can choose to harvest additional crops thus resulting in extra incomes

 

Yes, There is provision of insurance coverage by the vendor for the installed systems against natural calamities and theft.