Guwahati: The “Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan Yojana” (PM-KUSUM) scheme was officially inaugurated today by Assam’s Science and Technology Minister Keshab Mahanta.
At a programme held at the Assam Science Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC) headquarters, “Vigyan Bhavan”, in Guwahati on Wednesday afternoon, the minister formally launched the scheme by handing over an 86% government-subsidised solar-powered pump to a farmer from Raha for pollution-free irrigation in agricultural fields.
Minister Mahanta said, “The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) of the Central Government initiated this scheme with the aim of enriching the agricultural sector with solar energy. To successfully implement the scheme in Assam, Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has taken special initiatives to provide additional subsidies from the state government along with the announced subsidies from the Government of India. With joint subsidies from the Central and Assam governments, farmers in Assam will be able to avail themselves of 2 HP (horsepower) solar-powered pumps for irrigation with an overall subsidy of 86%.”
He further stated that the Assam Energy Development Agency (AEDA), a wing of ASTEC under the Department of Science and Technology, has been designated as the nodal agency for implementing the scheme in Assam. Minister Mahanta described this ambitious scheme of integrating solar energy into agriculture as a climate-friendly initiative of the government.
He added, “By replacing the conventional, pollution-causing, and expensive diesel or electric pumps with these solar-powered pumps, farmers will not only benefit financially but will also significantly contribute to reducing pollution in the agricultural sector of the state. Consequently, the scheme will be particularly useful in mitigating the challenges posed by climate change in Assam.”
According to the minister, the first phase of the scheme will cover 4,000 farmers, and each beneficiary will be provided with a solar-powered pump worth Rs 1.71 lakh. Each of these pumps can irrigate up to 20 hectares of agricultural land. Due to the substantial government subsidy, each farmer will need to pay only Rs 23,749 from their own pocket. This amount can be recovered within three to four months, as they will no longer have to spend on diesel or electricity to operate the pumps.
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