Lucknow: More than 93,062 farmers benefited from the distribution of solar pumps for irrigation purposes, significantly reducing their cultivation expenses, govt said on Wednesday. This is part of the Solar Irrigation Pump Distribution Scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM). Under this scheme, farmers are eligible to receive up to 60% subsidy. Selection of farmers for the scheme is based on a token system and follows a ‘first come, first served’ model. At the time of application, farmers are required to deposit Rs 5,000 online as token money. For a 2 HP solar pump, the applicant must have a functional borewell of 4 inches; for 3 HP and 5 HP pumps, a 6-inch borewell; and for 7.5 and 10 HP pumps, an 8-inch borewell with an adequate water level is mandatory. Agriculture minister Surya Pratap Shahi said farmers seeking to reduce input costs and promote water conservation can apply under the PM-KUSUM scheme.“The scheme not only helps in increasing farmers’ income but also reduces dependence on diesel for irrigation. It ensures access to free or low-cost electricity for irrigation and contributes to environmental conservation by cutting down the use of diesel pumps. Additionally, it supports efforts to address the challenges of climate change,” the spokesperson said.
